Staff turnover has been low and recruitment has not been a problem until recently. Childcare practitioners experience particular pressures and often seek to 'move on' after a period. Whilst the standard of newly recruited staff has been good their deployment to specialised duties has made it hard for them to gain an overview of all settings. The authority is in the process of contracting with a new IT supplier. The current systems are poor and do not provide sufficient information of a good quality for managers.
Financial information is good and the resources are monitored carefully.
The authority has worked with private enterprise and other statutory and voluntary agencies to raise funds for services, for example, the disability centre which provides resources for those with a disability. Service examples Services are concentrated in urban areas. Access to services is more difficult for people in the remoter areas and in the islands, especially when they are dependent on public transport. It is difficult to plan and provide cost effective services throughout the area, including the islands. Local managers purchase additional home care support when needs arise, for example, during or after an illness to prevent hospital admission.