Annual performance spotlights

People live the healthiest lives possible

What communities told us:

• isolation and poverty have a big impact on health and wellbeing
• mental health is an issue that concerns many residents, especially as it affects children and young people
• affordable and accessible activities – something for everyone whatever their ability or budget – are really important
• carers can feel isolated, undervalued and frustrated at the lack of opportunities to ‘make a better life’ for themselves and their families

What success will look like:

• increasing scores for resident life satisfaction, happiness and sense of purpose
• improved life expectancy for males and females
• increased number of people supported to live independently at home

Case study: Supporting choice, control and independent living through Self‑Directed Support

Self‑Directed Support (SDS) is central to our commitment to promoting independence, choice and control for people who use social care services. Targeted activity has been undertaken to address known challenges within the SDS system:

South Lanarkshire continues to develop and strengthen its Personal Assistant (PA) workforce to support the delivery of SDS Option 1 and maximise individuals’ choice and control. In line with the national context, there are ongoing challenges in recruitment and retention; however, targeted action is delivering early positive impact.

Since January 2026, partnership working with South Lanarkshire College and New College Lanarkshire has enabled promotional sessions on PA roles to be delivered to more than 150 students across Social Care, Healthcare and Early Years programmes.

A six‑month Working Together for Change programme was delivered in South Lanarkshire to strengthen how SDS is planned and delivered for disabled people and unpaid carers. Facilitated by In Control Scotland in partnership with South Lanarkshire HSCP, the programme brought together people with lived experience of SDS, unpaid carers and professionals through a series of in‑person and online sessions.

Participants worked collaboratively to identify where SDS processes could be improved and to co‑design practical proposals aimed at ensuring support is more person‑centred, consistent and aligned with the principles of choice and control. Senior HSCP leadership engaged directly with the outputs, using the findings to gain clearer insight into how SDS operates in practice and where change is required.

The programme provided valuable, experience‑led evidence to inform service improvement and reinforced the HSCP’s commitment to continuous improvement and meaningful co‑production in the design and delivery of SDS.

The Independent Living Fund (ILF), funded by the Scottish Government, reopened to new applicants in April 2024 to support up to 1,000 of Scotland’s most disabled people to live more independently. In 2025-26, despite a reduced national allocation, South Lanarkshire was allocated 38 awards, all of which were fully utilised.

These developments demonstrate our ongoing commitment to improving Self‑Directed Support. This coordinated approach is helping to ensure SDS continues to deliver meaningful choice, control and improved outcomes for people across South Lanarkshire.

Latest results

See Self-directed support

See Home first approach

See Care services, inspections and reports

See Office of the Public Guardian