First regional committee formed to manage criminal justice work

The first joint committee has been formed to manage all criminal
justice social work services in the north of Scotland.

The move follows a decision by the Scottish executive last year
that social work departments should group together to provide a
wider range of resources and responsibilities covering significant
population and geographic cover. The executive has decided that
there will be eight mainland groupings.

The Northern Partnership, comprising of Aberdeen City, Highland,
Moray and Aberdeenshire councils is the first to formally sign an
agreement. The joint committee will now prepare a strategic plan
for criminal justice social work services in all four council
areas, commission research, co-ordinate information and take
responsibility for quality assurance and training.

Councillor Alister Leitch, chairperson of Aberdeenshire
Council’s social and housing work committee, was appointed as
the first chair of the Northern Partnership. Leitch welcomed his
appointment and said: “It will be quite a challenge, but I’m
sure we will meet the challenges head on and look at new methods of
working.”