Tuesday April 28th 2026
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Stuart Sommerville
West Lothian will see a growing demand for mental health officers as the population ages.
Mental health officers (MHO) are qualified social workers trained to work with and ensure the rights of people incapacitated or vulnerable through failing mental health.
Councillors on the Social Work and Health PDSP heard that the council has a statutory duty to employ staff to administer the Adults with Incapacity Act administering Guardianships.
A welfare Guardianship order is a court-appointed authority for someone to make personal, medical, and care decisions for an adult (16+) unable to do so due to incapacity. Primarily used for ongoing care needs, it is granted by a sheriff to family, friends, or local authorities to ensure decisions meet the adult’s best interests under the Act.
Mental Health Officers in West Lothian also carry out local authority responsibilities relating to the supervision of private Welfare Guardians appointed under the Adults with Incapacity (AWI) Act, as well as delegated duties on behalf of the Chief Social Work Officer when the local authority itself is appointed as Welfare Guardian.
Currently, there are approximately 510 active Welfare Guardianship Orders in West Lothian, of which around 430 are held by private individuals and 80 by the Chief Social Work Officer.
A report to the PDSP detailed the current staffing levels. The MHO Team -comprising a Manager, ten MHOs, and one Community Care Assistant—carries out the majority of MHO work across the local authority.
The team also includes an MHO based within the Integrated Discharge Hub at St John’s Hospital. This role is primarily focused on progressing applications for Welfare Guardianship that are required to enable timely discharge from hospital.
There is a “satellite” MHO pool of 6 MHOs who undertake MHO duties under the Mental Health Act in addition to their core duties as Team Managers/Social Workers within various practice teams across the Council.
The Social Care Emergency Team (SCET) undertakes MHO duties outwith office hours and at weekends. There are three MHOs employed by SCET with a number of locum/supply MHOs also providing cover.
In his report Mark McIlwraith the team manager said: “Statistics show that the number of Guardianship Orders granted in West Lothian during the 2024–25 reporting period is the highest on record. This rise is due in part to the increased volume of renewal applications, reflecting the time-limited nature of most Guardianship appointments.
“Given the projected population demographics in West Lothian in relation to adults aged 75+, it is expected that trends in relation to increased demand for MHO services related to the AWI Act will likely continue.”
A report by West Lothian’s Health and Social Care Partnership last year highlighted: “West Lothian is projected to see one of the highest increases in pension-age individuals in Scotland, at 19.5% between 2022 and 2032.”
The number of people aged 75 and over is projected to grow by approximately 30% to 39% by 2028-2032. The 65-74 age group is expected to increase by around 19% by 2028.
Councillor Veronica Smith asked: “Is there a waiting list for referrals?”
“There is no waiting list in terms of allocation of officers or waiting lists,” said Mr McIlwraith.
Answering questions on training from Councillor Moira McKee Shemilt, Mr McIlwraith said there was an ongoing training programme to bring new officers on board each year.
In his report he concluded: “While recent improvements in staffing levels have enabled strong performance and responsiveness, the unpredictability of future demand—shaped by demographic change and evolving legislative responsibilities— means that sustained investment, robust workforce planning, and ongoing service development remain essential.”
Tweet Share on Facebook
