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Major changes in the way in which Health and Social Work Community Care Services are organised and delivered are featured in a new joint Community Care Plan published today (Wednesday).

The Highland Council and NHS Highland have worked closely together to produce the plan which runs until 2004.

The total budget for Community Care in the Highlands is over £125 million. The Joint Community Care plan provides information on how the money has been spent and priorities for future development. It also includes separate sections on the nine principal Community Care user groups e.g. older people and those with physical disabilities.

Speaking at the opening of the Council’s Housing and Social Work Committee meeting in Inverness Councillor David Flear, Chair of the Joint Committee for Action on Community Care commented: "It is testimony to the strength of partnership working in Highland that not only is our plan written jointly with NHS Highland but that representatives of the users of our services and their carers have been involved throughout its preparation.

"In working together to deliver the " Joint Future" we are committed to achieving:-

• Better and faster decision making
• More people cared for, for longer in their own homes
• Improved quality and effectiveness of all community care services
• Services which are responsive to the views and needs of individuals and their Communities ."

This Joint Community Care Plan is a more concise document than previous plans and concentrates on providing a pan-Highland view of key activities and targets. The report outlines the challenges being posed by the changing age profile of the Highland population, and gives an outline of planned expenditure in community care.

It is supported by 8 area supplements, one for each Highland Council area. These supplements are presented in workbook format including a comprehensive list of local achievements and a detailed 3 year action plan. These action plans will be constantly reviewed and updated by the Locality Planning Partnerships which exist in all areas. Locality planning creates a real local opportunity for people throughout Highland to actively engage in the process of setting Community Care targets and reviewing progress on them.

The Community Care Plan and supplements are available at The Highland Council website

Printed copies of the plan and 16 page summary are available from The Highland Council Social Work Service at Kinmylies Building, Leachkin Road, Inverness, IV3 8NN Telephone: 01463 703456