At its meeting on Tuesday 25 August, councillors considered a range of reports covering Adult Services, Housing Options and Homelessness, Children's Services and the Chief Social Work Officer's Annual Report. Members also approved the Adult Services, Housing Options and Homelessness Service Plan for 2026/27.
The Committee heard how continued investment in preventative support is helping deliver positive outcomes for children and young people. Reports highlighted support for more than 190 kinship care arrangements across the region, no recorded kinship placement breakdowns during the eight-month reporting period, support that enabled children to remain safely at home, and progress in reducing reliance on external residential placements.
Members also noted progress within Housing Options and Homelessness Services, where prevention activity is helping more people remain in their homes and avoid homelessness. During 2025/26, Housing Options and Prevention teams helped save 260 tenancies from eviction through targeted support and intervention. The Committee also heard that homeless applications reduced by 9 per cent and the number of open homelessness cases fell by 8 per cent during the year.
Councillor Andy McFarlane, Chair of Social Work Services Committee, said:
"These reports demonstrate the value of intervening early and providing support before people reach crisis point. Whether that means helping children remain safely within their families, supporting kinship carers, or helping households stay in their homes, prevention continues to make a real difference to people across Dumfries and Galloway.
"At the same time, Members recognise the significant pressures facing social work services nationally and locally. We remain committed to supporting our workforce and investing in services that achieve positive outcomes for children, families and vulnerable adults."
Councillor John Young, Vice Chair of Social Work Services Committee, said:
"The reports considered by the Committee show that although challenges remain, there is important work taking place across Social Work Services to support people earlier and more effectively.
"I was particularly encouraged to see the impact of homelessness prevention work, which is helping people avoid crisis and reducing the need for more intensive interventions later. Alongside that, Members received updates on continued work to improve and strengthen services across the region."
The Committee also considered updates relating to homelessness services, the work of the Chief Social Work Officer, improvement activity within children's residential services and plans for delivering Adult Services priorities during 2026/27.