THE annual performance report for the West Dunbartonshire Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) has been published.

It summarises the progress made by the HSCP over the past year and highlights the positive outcomes the integration of health and social care services can have on individuals, families and the wider community.

Teams across the HSCP have embraced innovative new approaches in line with the key strategic priorities of Caring Communities; Safe and Thriving Communities; Equal Communities and Healthy Communities.

West Dunbartonshire Social Work spokesperson and vice chair of the HSCP Board, councillor Fiona Hennebry said: "The report highlighted a lot of the HSCP achievements against our strategic plan covering a wide range of services to children and families across the council area.

“The annual report also gave an insight into the scale of the work, our many achievements and the challenges our staff face in continuing to deliver a high-quality service to those in need in West Dunbartonshire.

"In common with other public sector organisations, our biggest challenge is that our core budgets are under significant pressure, while demand for services are increasing.

In 2023 the HSCP had responsibility for a budget of £200.6 million.

The total workforce was over 2,200 people which is the equivalent of 1,785 full-time staff.

Of these 38 per cent of staff are employed by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and 62 per cent are employed by West Dunbartonshire Council.

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Employees are mainly female and a large number of those work part time, often at nights and weekends providing care to vulnerable people at their time of need.

And councillor Hennebry was keen to highlight the importance of the report.

"I want to thank all of our health and social care professionals for all the work they do for our residents and our communities," she continued.

“The report also recognised the importance of our wider community support from partners and volunteers.

"As an illustration, our dedicated foster carers and kinship carers are providing loving family homes for some of our most vulnerable children giving them the care and security that they need which enables them to have the happy childhood they deserve.

"It’s vital that we recognise their role and their expertise and that their views are taken into account in the planned five-year redesign of children and families services.”