Members of The Highland Council have agreed next steps in a major review of how adult and children’s health and social care services are organised in the Highlands.
At the beginning of 2025, the Council and NHS Highland agreed to undertake a review of its Model of Integration, which sets out how the Council and NHS Highland work together to deliver health and social care services.
Under the current Lead Agency model, NHS Highland delivers adult services on behalf of the Council, and the Council delivers some children’s services on behalf of the Health Board.
The aim of the review is to ensure the best possible arrangements for people who use services.
An initial options appraisal has since been completed, and at today’s meeting of The Highland Council, councillors agreed that two options be taken forward for engagement and consultation – subject to approval from the NHS Highland Board on Tuesday 31 March.
The two options include:
- Developing an enhanced Lead Agency Model; or
- Moving to a ‘Body Corporate’ model, including the establishment of a formal partnership board, which would bring Highland in line with arrangements elsewhere in Scotland.
Kate Lackie, Assistant Chief Executive – People, said: “Feedback from people who use these services and the staff who deliver them is going to be vital in shaping how we deliver health and social care services in the future. Subject to approval by the NHS Highland board, we will be working with the health board to confirm plans for a region-wide programme of communication and engagement activity with service users, staff, and partners, after the Scottish Parliament elections.”
Councillors also approved a programme plan, which includes timescales for a final decision and recommendation to The Highland Council and NHS Highland Board by September 2026.