The Highland Council and NHS Highland have appointed two senior officers to lead the planning for the integration of health and social care.

Jan Baird, the Director of Community Care for NHS Highland, will become the Transitions Director, leading a team of seconded staff from the Council and NHS Highland to develop and take forward the integration plan.  She has been a front-line health practitioner and manager for many years, and has had lead responsibility for children’s services and community care services to adults, and for joint work with Education, Police and Social Work.    

Jan will be assisted by Keith Yates, who has been appointed as an external advisor to the programme.  

Keith was the Chief Executive of Stirling Council from its inception in 1995 until he retired in June 2009. During that period, he developed a new approach to integrated public services. 

He was a member of the national working group that introduced Community Planning in 1998, and represented Councils on the Shared Services group which encouraged the integration of services with the NHS. He was the Chair of SOLACE (Scotland), the organisation representing Chief Executives, from 2005 -2007.  

Since retiring, Keith has been involved in a number of advisory committees and has worked on a number of assignments - most recently the Shetland Improvement Plan. 

Councillor Michael Foxley,  Leader of  the Administration at The Highland Council, said: “These are two tremendous appointments. We wished to ensure that this programme was led by the best people, who understand the benefits of integrating health and social care, and have excellent experience of public service management. I very much value the experience and skills that Jan Baird and Keith Yates will bring to this role.”  

Garry Coutts ,  Chair of NHS Highland,  said: “I believe that Jan Baird and Keith Yates will form an excellent partnership to take forward the planning for health and social care in Highland. Jan Baird brings first class knowledge of Highland communities and services, and Keith Yates has been one of the leading executives in the Scottish public sector over three decades. It is a perfect combination.”