£3 million preventative spending aims to promote wellbeing of young, old and deprived.
The Highland Council has published proposals to improve the circumstances of young people, older adults and those struggling with deprivation by committing at least £3 million of the Council's budget each year on earlier interventions to stop situations getting worse. "Preventative" spend involves action to promote the well-being of individuals and communities, to achieve the better use of resources and avoid more costly services at a later date.
The proposals, presented by Bill Alexander, Director of Health and Social Care, to the Council's Adult and Children's Services Committee, include:
Increasing the number of Health Visitors, to support universal health services, and also vulnerable families;
Earlier assessment of very young children who require additional support for their learning and development;
New arrangements to prevent violence against women and develop safety plans;
Follow up support for people living in areas of high deprivation who are at risk of cardio vascular disease;
Greater support for local communities to set up health and wellbeing services; and
Enhanced care at home provision.
It is intended that views are taken on these various proposals, prior to a further report to the Committee in November. This will enable decisions to be made at a full meeting of the Highland Council in December.
Councillor Alasdair Christie, Chair of the Adult and Children's Services Committee, said: "These proposals result from our discussions with local groups and with officers in the Council and NHS Highland. They are intended to address inequalities, and to direct expenditure into activities that will promote the well-being of individuals and communities."
The Council's Children's Champion, Linda Munro added: "I welcome the focus on support for vulnerable children, which is set out in the Council's programme, including the support for young families. If we can support young children in the earliest years, that assists healthy development, and prevents many difficulties at later stages of life."
The Council's Older People's Champion, Kate Stephen, welcomed the proposed further investment in services for older people. These would be commissioned from NHS Highland, as part of the new integrated service. She said: "With 5% more older people in Highland every year, it is critical that we enhance care at home, and also support communities to develop local services that help keep older people healthy, and able to live for as long as possible in their own homes."