The ‘Tackling inequalities and improving health and well-being’ award recognised the work being done by Highland Council’s Children’s Services in Health and Social Care to return young people to Highland from out of area placements.
The Home to Highland Programme vision is to return young people to Highland from out of area placements, enabling Highland children to remain in the communities they know, as opposed to living hundreds of miles away from their families, friends and schools.
Since 2018, 96 children have returned to Highland, improving educational, health and well-being outcomes for the returned young people.
This also avoids costs of over £19 million pounds, which has been invested in the development of a large number of new services in the Highland area enabling children to remain in their communities.
David Fraser, Chair of Highland Council’s Health, Social Care and Wellbeing Committee congratulated the Children’s Services Team, he said:
“The Home to Highland Programme has made a real difference not only to the children and young people directly returning to and remaining in their communities but also to the families also affected.
“This initiative is addressing the inequality of out of area placements and helps to directly improve the health and wellbeing of all those affected.
“I commend the Children’s Service Team for all their ongoing hard work in improving the lives of Highland’s children.”
Sponsorship and support for the awards ceremony was provided by E J Parker Technical Services, Wipro, Sustrans, Kier Construction and J. Thomson Printers.
