Multi-agency working has been a key feature of many of the services provided by Social Work during 2003/04. By dove-tailing services and reducing the number of agency assessments for clients, the Social Work Committee has endeavoured to find solutions that meet the needs of the whole person – their emotional, physical and community needs – and to establish effective, integrated systems of care that help combat social exclusion.

Key Achievements

• The Mobile Overnight Support Service, providing personal care for people who need assistance at times when normal support services are unavailable, was extended to cover the West Side of Lewis during 2003/04. Jointly funded by CnES and NHS Western Isles, this vital service now covers 70% of the population in the Western Isles.
• A multi-agency approach to the problems associated with drug and alcohol misuse led the Western Isles Alcohol Drug Smoking Action Team, of which the Comhairle is a member, to establish an integrated pathway of care based on the principle of a single, shared assessment of clients’ needs.
• The Carenap Single Shared Assessment (SSA) tool, used to assess the complex care needs of older people, was widely implemented during 2003/04. It will help ensure a high level of communication and co-ordination between staff involved in multi-agency assessments of health and social care needs.
• A purpose-built Joint Community Equipment Store funded by CnES and NHS Western Isles was completed during 2003/04 and will become fully operational early in 2004/05. The store provides specialist equipment for frail and disabled people to allow them to live independently in their own homes.
• The Western Isles Inter-Agency Child Protection Committee has been restructured to further develop and modernise child protection services in line with the Scottish Executive Child Protection Reform Programme.

Looking Ahead

Offering adults with learning disabilities the chance to live more independent lives lies at the heart of a community housing project located in Stornoway which will provide 24 hour support and specially equipped living accommodation for six adults. The houses were purchased by the Comhairle with funds accessed from Communities Scotland and will be available to tenants from 2004. Helping people with learning disabilities to fulfil their wishes and needs and lead fuller lives will be a new Co-ordinator serving Lewis and Harris from September 2004. The post has been established through the multi-agency Learning Disability Partnership with finance from the Scottish Executive’s Change Fund.

Construction work on the £3.5m South Uist Care Development is scheduled to commence after tenders are received for the project in September 2004. Completion is expected early in 2006. The development will greatly improve the services on offer to older residents in South Uist by providing 18 residential care places, a specialist dementia unit, day care and outreach support.