A union representative has sought assurances that a social service overhaul will not lead to job losses.
Shetland’s Unison branch secretary Susanne Gens questioned whether far-reaching changes would result in redundancies.
She was speaking during yesterday’s integration joint board (IJB) meeting, where information slides shown to members highlighted a potential reduction in staff levels.
Ms Gens said the report, which had an airing before the council’s policy and resources committee on Monday, had “raised concerns with care staff” across the isles.
“Can we get reassurance that there will be no redundancies and that staff engagement during the process remains a priority?” she asked.
IJB chairman John Fraser responded, calling it a “moot question”.
“I don’t think our problem is making people redundant,” he said.
“Our problem is getting people here to work - to do these jobs”.
The changes are being planned after figures showed the SIC spent £4.3 million on agency staff in 2025/26, while adult social care costs have increased by 63 per cent over five years.
Projections have forecast the number of people aged 90 and over in Shetland to increase by 238 per cent by 2047.
Mr Fraser said he was “delighted” that the strategic outline document was receiving an airing, adding he had “waited a long time to see it”.
But his attentionw as drawn to a line in the report warning that “even with unlimited resources, the current model could not continue”.
Mr Fraser told fellow members: “The working age population simply does not exist.
