People with dementia living in their own homes in the community are frequently considered to be at risk of wandering and the police regularly assist in searches for people who have wandered or become lost and disorientated. The Fife Telecare Development Programme (TDP) promotes the use of Telecare to support frail and vulnerable people to remain in their own homes and communities.

North Lanarkshire Council operate one of the most innovative and extensive networks of breakfast clubs anywhere in the UK. Their leading edge approach has successfully expanded the programme in recent years to encompass a wide range of additional activities.

In East Ayrshire nurture is being used innovatively on a multi-agency basis, for the first time, to support children at high risk of negative life experiences in both specialist education and in the early years setting, with a particular focus on early intervention by supporting children and families at the birth to three stage.

Based on a solution focused counselling approach, ‘Give Us A Break!’ encourages young people to recognise their own and others’ strengths, and builds their capacity, in terms of emotional literacy, to cope with present and future challenges in their lives.

The groundbreaking Customer Service Professional Qualification is transforming customer service across the country and is helping develop a more skilled workforce now and in the future. Scottish local government’s only online professional qualification certificated by the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA), has been developed under Renfrewshire Council and the Improvement Service’s lead, and is already helping to achieve more first-time resolutions of customer enquiries and increase customer satisfaction levels.

Working with a range of partners, the Housing Advice & Homeless Service, including the ‘George Street team’, has provided support, care and access to affordable housing for those who are homeless, and generally ‘makes things happen’ for those in housing need.

West Lothian Council has developed a unique approach to carbon management that places the council in the best possible position to reduce carbon emissions and tackle climate change. The council’s Carbon Management Structure has delivered real savings in terms of energy, carbon and cost.

The Healthy Eating Project is an exciting and innovative initiative involving the development of a training course for adults with learning disabilities, across a range of ability levels, which enables them to learn about the key healthy eating messages from the Scottish Healthy Living Campaign by changing it into a more accessible format.

The Advice in Primary Care (AIPC) Service provides advice and practical assistance in Renfrewshire’s GP surgeries and health centres, targeting vulnerable groups who may not otherwise access these services due to ill health, lack of transport or lack of knowledge about benefits or welfare rights.

The Dragons’ Den (TV programme) concept was developed to create a sustainable format which would work in Renfrewshire schools. The programme was designed to link financial education with social enterprise, in a venture which encouraged school pupils to create a business idea, develop a business plan, apply for funding and then run the business.

East Lothian Council has undergone significant organisational change during the last few years following publication of a critical ‘Best Value’ audit. A key area identified for urgent improvement was to develop an integrated leadership development programme for officers. Since then, there has been significant cultural change across the Council and efforts to move away from a ‘silo’ working basis to a culture of involvement and shared ownership.

CECiL (City of Edinburgh Council Interactive Learning) provides an online-learning facility 24/7 for all the Council’s employees from any internet location including the workplace, dedicated learning resource centres, at home or through the organisation’s library network. Now in its fourth year the CECiL platform has transformed the way in which the Council approaches and delivers learning and development.

The Joint Internet Safety TV Advertising Campaign brought together four local authorities to create a two week public awareness campaign with a reach and power far beyond what was available using local press advertising, but with a comparable cost.

Flexible working has the potential to satisfy the expectations of employers, employees and customers in the way we work whilst enabling us to deliver efficiencies. No longer tied to a fixed desk, Worksmart is empowering staff to be closer to where and when the service demand occurs. The project covers 4 elements – our people, processes, technology and physical environment.

The service re-routing for improved recycling project was a crucial part of the successful sustainable waste management solution implemented in November 2009 to increase recycling rates within Renfrewshire to meet SOA commitments and challenging Scottish and EU recycling targets.

The Perthshire Kitchen Project was an ambitious, five year, £33.4M housing improvement contract, which aimed to install & completely refurbish over 7000 Kitchens for the benefit of our customers. Not only will P&K Council meet the Scottish Housing Quality Standard (SHQS) regarding kitchen capacity it will improve on the standard through our own ambitious high specifications and the Perth & Kinross Council Standard Delivery Plan.

The PrePare service aims to ensure effective care management and coordination by bringing together a specialist and multi-disciplinary team based in one location.

Inverclyde Council’s Rights Respecting Schools Award Project (RRSA) is steeped in the premise developed by UNICEF that children and young people can raise their achievement at school and improve the quality of their own and their families’ lives if they learn exactly what their rights and responsibilities are.

The Integrated mental health service is a partnership delivering community based mental health care in Clackmannanshire. The project has shown considerable improvement through innovative redesign, Scotland’s first pooled budget and a commitment to integration, offering better client care.

The Pre-Application Advice Service brings together all Council Services and relevant external partners to deliver a consistent, effective and efficient service to the development industry to facilitate sustainable economic growth in Highland to strengthen Highland communities.