The WESTERN ISLES COMMUNITY CARE FORUM was established in 1992 to give community and voluntary organisations involved in care a voice in community care planning.

Management Committee members are drawn from throughout the islands. Members represent the Forum on, for example: the Carers' Strategy Group; Older People's Partnership; Community Health and Social Care Partnership; Clinical Strategy Group; Learning Disabilities Network; Data Sharing Partnership; Joint Services Committee; Adult Protection Committee; Adult Protection Procedures Sub-group; Western Isles Mental Health Partnership; Community Planning Partnership; Locality Planning Groups and Western Isles Citizens Advice Service. Senior representatives of the Social Work Department and of the Health Board attend quarterly committee meetings.

Board members and individual voluntary care organisations have been involved, through the Forum at consultations with, for example: joint Scottish Health Council/People's Health Network/Locality Planning Groups meeting; Quality Improvement Scotland; Patient Focus Public Involvement; WIHB Self Assessment; Adults with Incapacity; I-Reach; Free Personal Care; Scottish Health Feedback; Direct Payments; Independent Living Fund; Ambulance Service Consultations etc.

The Forum publishes a Directory of Care Services, a 'flier' of emergency services and a quarterly newsletter. Compilation and updating of a Register of Carers, from throughout the islands, has been ongoing for a number of years. The Forum was also the lead agency in the establishment of Advocacy Western Isles and of Disability Access Panels in all island areas. A pilot Care Commission Lay Assessor Project, one of only four in Scotland, was co-ordinated by the Forum .