New Year's Honour for former Director of Social Work

2nd January 2015

Highland Council welcomes the New Year's Honour that has been awarded to a long serving former manager. Harriet Dempster has received an OBE for services to child welfare.

Ms Dempster was Highland Council's Director of Social Work for more than ten years from 1999. This was a period of significant change and modernisation, during which Highland was recognised as leading the way nationally in children’s services.

Over her career, Harriet worked as a practitioner, researcher, lecturer and in policy posts. In 1992 she was seconded to the Scottish Office as Assistant Chief Inspector of Child Care and whilst there, advised on the follow up to the Orkney Inquiry and the Children Scotland Bill team.

In 1995, she returned to local government to take up post as Manager of Children's Services with Dundee City Council. She was appointed as an Honorary Professor at The University of Stirling in 1997, and between 1997 and 2000 she chaired the Association of Directors of Social Work Children & Families Committee.

Harriet’s long and distinguished career was recognised by the Association of Directors of Social Work, who elected her as President for 2009/10. In that role, she played a key role in social work across the country, and with the Scottish Government.

Since retiring from her post with the Council in 2010, Ms Dempster has continued to work with children’s organisations, including as the Chair of Fèis Rois, the Gaelic traditional music body.

Alasdair Christie, Chair of Highland Council’s Education, Children & Adult Services Committee, said: "This award is a tremendous and well deserved recognition of a long career in social work and services for children. Harriet achieved much for Highland’s children, and the Council is delighted that she has been awarded an OBE."