Director of Care and Learning retires

Tributes have been paid to The Highland Council's Director of Care and Learning, Bill Alexander who retires on 19 October after eighteen years leading the council’s Care and Learning Services.

At the Council’s Care and Learning meeting held today (Thursday 18 October 2018) Chair of the Committee, Cllr Andrew Baxter; and Leader of the Council, Cllr Margaret Davidson praised Mr Alexander for his long service to the Council.

Cllr Davidson said: “Bill has had an exceptional career in Social Work and Education over many years. As Highland developed new and integrated models for health, care and education, he was there at the birth of ‘Getting it Right for Every Child’ (known as GIRFEC) and other ground breaking changes designed to keep children safe. 

“He has also pioneered the hugely successful integration of children’s services across the public sector. Bill leaves a legacy of a better, safer service – focussed on keeping our children and young people safer and they have more opportunities. Bill’s contribution has been in strategy not just here in the Highlands but nationally. We would all like to wish him a long and happy and very well deserved retirement.”

Councillor Baxter added: “While Bill’s distinguished career spans both Social Work and Education, more recently he has contributed to the creation of the Northern Alliance - a partnership between 8 local authorities in the North of Scotland – which acts as a single voice for common topics and issues that affect the partners. It is recognised as the single voice of the north by the Scottish Government on education matters. This partnership provides the authorities with more lobbying power and leverage when addressing issues at national level. 

“Bill’s advice and support to the Care and Learning Committee has been greatly welcomed over the past years. I have enormous respect for the work undertaken with Bill Alexander. We will miss his contributions, but wish him well in his retirement.”

Bill started with Highland Council in 2000, in a joint post with NHS Highland as Head of Children’s Services. He previously worked as a social work manager in Strathclyde and East Dunbartonshire Councils.

Over the last 18 years, Bill has held the posts of Director of Social Work, Director of Health & Social Care, and Director of Care and Learning.