Renfrewshire Council continues to improve and is making encouraging progress in the performance of its services, says the Accounts Commission.

A report published today, the second of a new type of audit, charts progress since 2006 when the Commission found the council had strong and effective leadership but needed to improve service performance. Improvements have been made since then in the way Renfrewshire plans, manages and carries out its business.

New ways of offering people more choice and control over their social care can make a real difference but further work is needed to ensure everyone can benefit, says a report out today.

Since 2014 councils have been responsible for implementing Self-directed Support (SDS), which offers people more choices around their support and how it is managed. This is now largely provided by the new local health and social care integration authorities drawn from councils and the NHS.

Spending on staff in Scotland's NHS is increasing and overall staff numbers are at their highest level ever but there are urgent workforce challenges, and the Scottish Government and health boards have not planned effectively for the long term.