One of Scotland’s leading social care providers gears up to launch its new national headquarters, which will be fitted with a state-of-the-art training academy it hopes will revolutionise both how it will deliver care and look after its workers.

Highland Home Carers (HHC) has announced its acquisition of an Inverness property, which it says will give it the platform to transform and modernise practices in the social care sector.

HHC – which is also Scotland’s largest employee-owned campaign – says the new facility will be vital in helping the organisation fulfil its vision of rolling out safe, high-quality, resilient models of social care across the Highlands in partnership with the local NHS board.

Key to this is the creation of a custom-built, sector-leading Care Academy, equipped with high calibre trainers and equipment, which it hopes will position HHC as the sector leader for social care training in Scotland.  

Campbell Mair, HHC Managing Director, said completing the purchase of 1 Highlander Way is a unique and distinctive juncture for the company:

“Being able to create a bespoke headquarters for the first time is a game changer for the company, helping us improve the working lives of our workforce as well as the scope and reach of adult social care we provide across the region.

“What is without doubt the biggest single investment in the company’s history will significantly strengthen our ability to improve on this and continue our progress in effecting social change.”

The news comes at a particularly challenging time for the social care sector, which is grappling with staffing shortages and a mounting cost of living crisis.

HHC currently has more than 300 staff supporting people across the region in collaboration with NHS Highland.

The organisations says its new learning and development programme, ‘Care for a Career’, will seek to improve the working lives of those it employs.

Louise Bussell, NHS Chief Officer of Highland Community, commended the development on behalf of NHS Highland:

“Growing our workforce of valued colleagues as well as developing innovative practices for the future are essential and we therefore very much welcome these exciting plans.”

HHC’s managing director, Mr Mair spoke with healthandcare.scot last year about his desire to see home care funding move to a caseload model, rather than funding be allocated in time-based segments.

This, he said, would go some way to building trust and respect within the sector.

HHC says it is becoming increasingly involved in providing care outside the traditional care-at-home model. The company currently provides services for people with complex needs in Fortrose, at Lomond & Leachkin on its New Craigs Campus, Inverness, and also works closely within communities across the region.