Single Outcome Agreement. Highland Council
Single Outcome Agreement. Highland Council Local Context National Outcome 2 We realise our full economic potential with more and better employment opportunities for our people Scope of governance and accountability locally HIE Highland Council Child care providers in third sector Caithness and North Xxxxxxxxxx Regeneration Partnership (list members) Participation rates in the Highlands area are amongst the highest in the country with some 83% of the workforce actually in work. Unemployment rates are correspondingly low and have been below the Scottish average for most of the last three years. The overall unemployment rate in Highland is at an all-time low with the latest figures showing a lower unemployment rate in Highland (1.9%) relative to Scotland (2.3%) and Great Britain (2.2%). The most recent figures show the variation in low levels of unemployment across the region, from 3.8% in Wick in January 2008 to 1.7% in Inverness. This low unemployment is evidence of a turnaround in economic fortunes for the region. Challenges remain however in terms of: • Fragility in the economy with a low share of employment in high value (and high paying) sectors such as financial services, research and development and the knowledge economy; • The nature of sectoral employment, with “public administration, education and health” accounting for up to one third of jobs and the location of those jobs important in sustaining local economies; “agriculture and fishing” featuring strongly in Skye, Xxxxxx Xxxx and Lochaber; “distribution, hotels and restaurants” important in all areas; and “energy, water and manufacturing” featuring in Caithness and Xxxxxxxxxx. • The dominance of small firms in the regional economy, the lack of private sector head offices and the relatively large number of tourism and primary sector firms, where the value of output per worker tends to be lower and prospects for development and career progression are more limited; • The narrow economic base and seasonality of activity in the more remote areas also leads to a situation where many people have a number of part-time occupations throughout the year which often results in a lack of specialisation and relatively highly qualified individuals inadvertently underemployed. Seasonal employment is higher than the Scottish figures, with seasonal fluctuations particularly marked in the west Highlands and Skye; • Uneven economic circumstances across a large and sparsely population region with: ➢ population growth and prosperity concentrat...
Single Outcome Agreement. Highland Council Local Context National Outcome 4 Our young people are successful learners, confident individuals, effective contributors and responsible citizens Effective education services and performance in schools Overall pupil numbers in Highland currently stand at currently stand at 32,163; they have declined significantly in primary schools while experiencing a small increase in secondary schools. Primary numbers have declined in all areas and this is evenly distributed across the Council Areas. Secondary populations have declined in Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxx and Lochalsh, Xxxx & Cromarty and Lochaber. Secondary rolls have increased in Caithness, Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey. Achievement in schools compares well with the national average and with comparator authorities. In primary schools pupils perform around the comparator average and this moves to above this average at the end of S2 in Secondary school. At SQA levels 3, 4, 5 and 6, Highland outperforms both national and comparator authorities by the time pupils reach the end of S6. Significant work is presently being undertaken in a major literacy project that is having a significant impact in Primary schools and is seriously promoting and modelling reading and writing at all levels. The nationally recognised work on learning and teaching and Assessment is for Learning is having a significant effect on our practice by giving many young people additional opportunities for recognition of their ongoing achievements. Scope of governance and accountability locally: Highland Council Northern Constabulary School inspections reflect the variability of our schools. Normally around 26 primary and 6 secondary schools are inspected annually, with current cycle is under review by HMIE. Strengths tend to be on climate and relationships whilst weaknesses tend to be in the areas of self evaluation. Some schools are beginning to demonstrate excellence in their practice. The Quality Improvement Team are constantly engaged with schools, supporting and challenging them to improve, helping take forward strategies, promoting best practice and helping overcome weaknesses. NHS Highland Supporting young people to be confident and effective contributors The Council is demonstrating its’ commitment to engaging with young people on policy and service development at all levels by supporting and developing Highland Youth Voice, Youth Forums and pupil councils. It has a paid post of Youth Convener who has voting rights on...
Single Outcome Agreement. Highland Council Local Context National Outcome 7 We have tackled the significant inequalities in Scottish society Scope of governance and accountability locally: Highland Council Job Centre+ NHS Highland HIE Northern Constabulary HIFRS Highland Adult Literacies Partnership (Council, Careers Scotland, WEA, Highland Colleges, Youth Highland, LEAD Scotland, Inverness Prison, Learning Centres and Training and Guidance (TAG) NHS). Registered Social Landlords Advice agencies including CABx Socio-economic inequalities often manifest in poverty and poorer health. The underlying causes of inequalities can be related to gender, disability and race, childhood experience and a lack of opportunity. In the Highlands inequalities can be exacerbated by poorer access to services particularly in rural and remote areas. To contribute to the national outcome in tackling inequalities, the Highland Community Planning Partnership will focus on tackling poverty (through improving employability, affordability of services and financial inclusion), dealing better with homelessness, improving health among the most disadvantaged in the region and promoting equalities across all 6 strands (age, faith, race, disability, sexual orientation and gender). Improving equalities outcomes will take time, not least because interventions need to be wider than changing individual behaviours and include broader economic and structural change in how society operates, as despite 30 years of individual legal rights, there remain areas of deep-rooted inequality and disadvantage in society which need to be addressed. There is educational under-performance among some groups – some boys, many disabled people and some ethnic minority communities. Violence against women continues. Women and ethnic minorities are under-represented at senior level in politics, public services and business. Disabled people are still two and a half times more likely to be out of work than non-disabled people. The broader changes required are reflected across the other National Outcomes and supportive indicators for a fairer Highlands are woven through this Agreement. Tackling poverty – employment and income deprivation The scale and nature of socio-economic inequalities in Highland cannot be measured by using solely the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD). While the 2006 Index identifies 17 data zones in Highland (with a population of around 11,930) within the 15% most deprived in Scotland ( and 3 data zones within t...
Single Outcome Agreement. Highland Council Local Context National Outcome 13 We take pride in a strong, fair and inclusive national identity Gaelic has iconic significance to the Highlands and is an important aspect of Scotland’s ethnic identity. It is growing in vitality with not only current Gaelic speakers (12,760 at the time of the 2001 Census, comprising 6% of the population) but with increasing interest from those wishing to learn it or to have their children learn it. Gaelic speakers are found throughout the region with concentrations in Skye and Lochaber and many west coast communities, in Dingwall and Inverness and there is growing interest in the language in the north and east of the Highlands. In 2006-7 there were over 1300 Gaelic language learners in secondary schools and over 1280 pupils learning in the medium of Gaelic in primary and secondary schools. An all-Gaelic Primary School in Inverness (Bunsgoil Gàidhlig Inbhir Nis) was opened in 2007. Highland Council continues to consult on demand for further all Gaelic schools across the area. Scope of governance and accountability locally: Highland Council HIE Gaelic has contributed to the regional economy, particularly through education, broadcasting and development. The rapid growth of traditional Gaelic music and song both enhances the cultural life of the region and attracts many visitors to the Highlands. The Council is among the first public authorities to produce a Gaelic Language Plan. It takes into account Bòrd na Gàidhlig’s National Plan and its aim for “a healthy, vibrant language increasingly used, valued and respected in a modern, multicultural and multilingual Scotland”. Bòrd na Gàidhlig The Council’s Gaelic Language Plan is based on the principle of equal respect for Gaelic and English. It sets out how the Council will: • enable the public to access Council services through Gaelic • raise awareness of Gaelic • encourage parents to use Gaelic in the home • increase the range of opportunities to use Gaelic in the community • provide Gaelic education HIE is also amongst the first public authorities required to prepare a statutory Gaelic Language Plan. The Gaelic Plan for HIE will look to: • apply the principle of equal respect for Gaelic and English, and by extension speakers of Gaelic and English • mainstream knowledge and awareness of the region’s Gaelic identity, and embedding Gaelic audibly and visually in the day to day operation of HIE • seize new opportunities for the language’s growth and renewal; capit...
Single Outcome Agreement. The Third Sector Partnership identifies its contribution to the Single Outcome Agreement and to the priorities within that document and takes these fully into account when identifying its own and intermediary organisational priorities.
Single Outcome Agreement. Highland Council National Outcome 7 We have tackled the significant inequalities in Scottish society Local Context Based on the Area Profile the following local outcomes have been agreed:
Single Outcome Agreement. Highland Council National Outcome 8 We have improved the life chances for children, young people and families at risk. Local Context: Based on the Area Profile the following local outcomes have been agreed:
Single Outcome Agreement. Highland Council Local Context National Outcome 6 We live longer, healthier lives. Life expectancy at birth has continued to increase in Highland and is currently 75.2 years for men and 80.6 years for women. The figures nationally are 74.6 years for men and 79.6 years for women. Not all of society has benefited equally from increases in life expectancy and there are known variations that primarily result from inequalities in socio-economic circumstances. For many the reality of the health inequality gap between the most and least deprived in Highland are poorer health, reduced quality of life and premature death. Chronic and degenerative diseases such as cancer, heart disease and stoke are the largest causes of premature death in Highland and Scotland. Suicide, self-inflicted injury and death from road accidents remain significantly higher in Highland than the Scottish average. Scope of governance and accountability locally: Highland Council NHS Highland Northern Constabulary Healthy life expectancy provides a summary measure of the years an individual can expect to live in good health after adjusting for limiting long-term illness. The available estimate suggests the difference between healthy and total life expectancy in Highland is about 18 years for males and 20 years for females. In order to optimise physical health and emotional wellbeing across the life course, key health improvement measures are identified from birth onwards. To ensure that the youngest in the area have the best possible start in life and are equipped to make healthy lifestyle choices, key improvement indicators relate to: • birth weight; smoking in pregnancy; breast feeding; uptake of childhood vaccinations; dental health; parenting programmes; and reducing rates of unplanned teenage pregnancy (13-15 years). These are included in National Outcome 5. Voluntary sector providers For older children and young people key indicators relate to healthy weight and good activity levels for children. These are managed in partnership between the Council and NHS Highland through the framework for delivering the multi agency Children’s Plan and include action from the “your choice to healthy living” initiative and the implementation of the new Schools Health Promotion and Nutrition (Scotland) Xxx 0000. While data indicates that girls outperform boys in cardiovascular fitness tests at P7, national data (Healthier Scotland) shows a significant drop off in the participation of girls after the trans...
Single Outcome Agreement. Highland Council National Outcome 15 Our public services are high quality, continually improving, efficient and responsive to local people’s needs Scope of governance and accountability: Highland Council NHS Highland HIE All public agencies in Highland to be included in future agreements Local Context Improvement frameworks Best Value in local authority services requires continuous improvement to be demonstrated in service delivery, with proper regard paid to efficiency, economy, effectiveness, equalities and sustainable development. Achieving Best Value is a statutory requirement and the same legislation contains duties on community planning, which requires Councils to facilitate joint working with other public sector partners and engagement with the voluntary and business sectors and with communities to improve public services. The extent to which the Council achieves Best Value and community planning was audited in 2005, with the report and improvement plan published in 2006. The audit recognised strengths in the Council’s performance and identified 13 short term and medium term improvement areas. The Council’s improvement plan contained 83 specific action points to address these areas. The follow up audit in 2007 recognised that most of the improvement actions (70 out of 83) had been completed with the remainder due for completion by 2009. The outstanding areas of work, which are all currently in progress, relate to improvements in: complaints handling; local public performance reporting; asset management; staff profile information; general movement of Statutory Performance Indicators (SPIs); and testing the competitiveness in Statutory Trading Organisations. In addition to the views of regulators, the Council identifies areas for improvement in service delivery from: Customer feedback – in addition to localised and service specific customer feedback, each year the Council commissions a survey of public opinion which gauges satisfaction with services and asks for views on the quality of life. Over the past 5 years positive feedback and continuous improvement are recorded from respondents in the areas of: customer contact (66% report their telephone call being dealt with on the first point of contact with this number rising to over 90% for contact through the Service Centre); satisfaction with services generally (with 80% of respondents very or fairly satisfied with Council services and with more people satisfied than dissatisfied in 33 out of 42 servic...
