Budget investment proposals aim to improve care and respite for Highland families.

‘Improving care and respite for families’ is one of The Highland Council Administration’s investment proposals to be considered by councillors when they meet to decide the budget on Thursday 6 March.

Council will consider a recurring £0.250m investment to employ six family support workers to improve care and respite arrangements for families with the greatest needs.

Chair of Health, Social Care and Wellbeing Cllr David Fraser commented: “We said we would improve outcomes for all children and young people across Highland with a particular focus on our most vulnerable.

“This proposed investment aims to provide a greater availability of service provision for those who need it most and with a greater degree of inclusion. If approved, it will help support a future respite model, adding to the existing funding for short breaks, which will provide a greater degree of wrap around support for families.”

Cllr Fraser added: “In addition there is a proposed £1.048m investment Additional Support Needs (ASN) and an another of £0.200m to add to the Community and Family Wellbeing Fund.  Taken together, these investments represent a significant commitment by the Administration to support children, young people and families across the Highlands.”

The proposal is based on the outcome of a review previously undertaken into respite services in the area, which has considered the needs and concerns of families of children with additional support needs.

If approved, the future model for respite will provide support across three centres located in north, west and south Highland – but available to families across the whole Highland area as part of a wider plan for children and families. By providing appropriate levels of respite and support, young people are more likely to be able to remain within their families and communities which has wide reaching financial and non-financial benefits.

Other benefits of the proposed future model are that it should help to ensure that families' needs are met more effectively while ensuring the GIRFEC processes (Getting it Right for Every Child) work effectively on their behalf. In addition to respite care, the new service would also aim to provide positive support to families by providing more advice, assistance and guidance.

The budget report and proposals are available on the Council’s website and the Special Meeting of the Council starts at 09:30 on Thursday 6 March which will be webcast.