The Council’s Health, Social Care and Wellbeing Committee has considered a range of reports highlighting progress, pressures and improvements across services supporting children, adults and families.
Cllr David Fraser, Chair of the Health, Social Care and Wellbeing Committee said: “Today’s reports provide a clear picture of both the scale of demand on our services and the work underway to improve outcomes.
“Members are focused on maintaining a strong oversight while addressing significant national and local challenges, particularly around workforce capacity, service demand and system pressures. We remain committed to supporting sustainable services that meet the needs of our communities across Highland.”
Delivery Plan progress and service transformation
Members noted progress across 57 projects and programmes within the Council’s Health and Social Care Delivery Plan and agreed updates to key workstreams to better reflect priorities.
These workstreams will provide a strengthened focus and re-alignment with the Delivery Plan to improve outcomes and support sustainable services including:
- Improving Children’s Care & Support;
- “Residential Care” focussing on children’s houses and placements;
- Family Based Care, focussing on Fostering, Adoption & Kinship Care; and
- A new project created named “Children’s Disability Support”.
Fostering: addressing national shortage through investment
The Committee noted continued national and local challenges in foster care, including a shortfall of around 400 foster carers across Scotland and declining recruitment.
Members noted that Highland currently has 82 foster carer households; additional investment is being directed to strengthen recruitment and retention; and that a digital marketing campaign and new officer posts are being introduced. These measures aim to increase local fostering capacity and reduce reliance on external placements.
Adult Social Care: assurance ‘good’ with ongoing pressures
Members noted assurance on Adult Social Care services, with most service provision graded “good” quality by the Care Inspectorate. Members were reminded of the ongoing work taking place with NHS Highland to review the model of integration currently in place in Highland.
The report highlighted ongoing pressures across the system, including (since February 2026) - 400 people currently waiting for care at home support; and 2,449 hours of unmet care at home across the service. Members also noted that demand for Care Home Placements remains the most common reason for delayed hospital discharge including (as of May 2026) - 80 people delayed in hospital awaiting care home placements; and 96% occupancy across Highland care home beds
Despite such pressures, Audit Scotland notes that while person-centre and accessible care is declining nationally, Highland’s results contrast positively with Highland performing at or above the national average in nearly all core integration performance indicators.
Domestic abuse services: maintaining support during review
Progress on the review of domestic abuse services, including outreach provision, refuge services and multi‑agency arrangements was noted by Councillors.
Procurement processes to secure a provider for Highland Domestic Abuse Service (HDAS) -South remains currently live; while new multi-year outreach contracts under the Highland Domestic Abuse Service (HDAS) are in place for North, Mid and West Highland.
Members were informed that interim arrangements remain in place to ensure continuity of outreach support for service users in South Highland while procurement activity is ongoing. Members were advised that that procurement process is anticipated to conclude by the end of June.
Children’s Services Plan to shape future priorities
The Committee noted progress on the new Highland Children’s Services Partnership Plan (2026–2029) and provided comment on the draft which has been approved by the Children’s Services Planning Partnership Board.
The plan is aligned with national priorities including The Promise, tackling child poverty, and will guide multi‑agency work to improve outcomes for children and families. The plan embeds the principles of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and reflects the values of Getting it right for every child (GIRFEC).
National child protection review and inquiry
Members noted the commencement of the Scottish Government’s national review and public inquiry into child sexual abuse and exploitation, which will inform future safeguarding arrangements. The scope of the review was also noted by Members.
New national social work agency established
The Committee noted the creation of the newly created National Social Work Agency and Scottish Social Work Partnership which will operate as an executive agency of the Scottish Government. Members agreed to receive further NSWA updates on workforce development and practice improvements on a national and local level and welcomed that these national developments aim to strengthen recruitment, leadership and consistency across Scotland’s social work services.