# Orkney Islands: social care spending url: https://whereyourmoneygoes.co.uk/social-care/orkney-islands/ updated: 29 September 2026 licence: Our words, analysis, charts and derived calculations: CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), credit [Tekstak Ltd](https://tek-stak.co.uk). Figures: each source's own licence, listed under Sources. publisher: [Tekstak Ltd](https://tek-stak.co.uk) # Orkney Islands: social care spending Last updated 29 September 2026. Figures refresh every night. [How each figure is worked out](/methodology/). **£33m** for Orkney Islands in 2024-25, **£1,496** per resident, +1.3% on a year earlier after inflation. Most of its adult social care money is paid to the Integration Joint Board, which runs care with the NHS. Figure as of 3 February 2026. Source: [Scottish Government](https://www.gov.scot/binaries/content/documents/govscot/publications/statistics/2026/02/scottish-local-government-finance-statistics-2024-25/documents/la-level---net-revenue-expenditure-by-subservice/la-level---net-revenue-expenditure-by-subservice/govscot%3Adocument/Scottish%2BLocal%2BGovernment%2BFinance%2BStatistics%2B%2528SLGFS%2529%2B2024-25%2B-%2BLA%2BLevel%2B-%2BNet%2BRevenue%2BExpenditure%2Bby%2BSubservice%2B-%2B2026-01-09.xlsx). ## Key figures - £33m2024-25, cash +5.5% on a year earlier As of 3 February 2026 - £1,496Per resident, 2024-25 As of 3 February 2026 - £1,496Social work spending per resident, Scotland, 2024-25 Scotland: £879 As of 3 February 2026 - 24 childrenChildren looked after (Scotland), 2025 Scotland: 11,824 children As of 28 April 2026 - 61 per 10,000 childrenChildren looked after per 10,000 children (Scotland), 2025 Scotland: 116 per 10,000 children As of 28 April 2026 Source: [Scottish Government](https://www.gov.scot/binaries/content/documents/govscot/publications/statistics/2026/02/scottish-local-government-finance-statistics-2024-25/documents/la-level---net-revenue-expenditure-by-subservice/la-level---net-revenue-expenditure-by-subservice/govscot%3Adocument/Scottish%2BLocal%2BGovernment%2BFinance%2BStatistics%2B%2528SLGFS%2529%2B2024-25%2B-%2BLA%2BLevel%2B-%2BNet%2BRevenue%2BExpenditure%2Bby%2BSubservice%2B-%2B2026-01-09.xlsx). ## Over time: cash, real terms and per resident **Orkney Islands: spending in cash and in 2025-26 prices, £ million** Real terms use HM Treasury’s GDP deflator, 2025-26 prices. Breaks in the series: 2016-17: Scotland: most adult social care money has been paid to the Integration Joint Boards since April 2016, so council returns show one payment line instead of services. 2020-21: Covid-19: extra grants such as the Infection Control Fund raised spending in 2020-21 and 2021-22. 2011-12: PESA 2011 counted some personal social services under unemployment; later editions count none there, so the UK split by purpose shifts slightly before 2011-12. **The numbers behind this chart** | Year | Real terms (2025-26 prices) | Cash | | --- | --- | --- | | 2022-23Details | £30.7m | £27.1m | | Cash£27.1m | | | | 2023-24Details | £33.6m | £31.2m | | Cash£31.2m | | | | 2024-25Details | £34.1m | £32.9m | | Cash£32.9m | | | Figure as of 3 February 2026. Source: [Scottish Government](https://www.gov.scot/binaries/content/documents/govscot/publications/statistics/2026/02/scottish-local-government-finance-statistics-2024-25/documents/la-level---net-revenue-expenditure-by-subservice/la-level---net-revenue-expenditure-by-subservice/govscot%3Adocument/Scottish%2BLocal%2BGovernment%2BFinance%2BStatistics%2B%2528SLGFS%2529%2B2024-25%2B-%2BLA%2BLevel%2B-%2BNet%2BRevenue%2BExpenditure%2Bby%2BSubservice%2B-%2B2026-01-09.xlsx). **Orkney Islands: spending per resident, 2025-26 prices** Per resident divides by ONS mid-year population estimates. **The numbers behind this chart** | Year | Per resident, 2025-26 prices | Per resident, cash | | --- | --- | --- | | 2022-23Details | £1,393 | £1,230 | | Per resident, cash£1,230 | | | | 2023-24Details | £1,525 | £1,417 | | Per resident, cash£1,417 | | | | 2024-25Details | £1,548 | £1,496 | | Per resident, cash£1,496 | | | Figure as of 3 February 2026. Source: [Scottish Government](https://www.gov.scot/binaries/content/documents/govscot/publications/statistics/2026/02/scottish-local-government-finance-statistics-2024-25/documents/la-level---net-revenue-expenditure-by-subservice/la-level---net-revenue-expenditure-by-subservice/govscot%3Adocument/Scottish%2BLocal%2BGovernment%2BFinance%2BStatistics%2B%2528SLGFS%2529%2B2024-25%2B-%2BLA%2BLevel%2B-%2BNet%2BRevenue%2BExpenditure%2Bby%2BSubservice%2B-%2B2026-01-09.xlsx). Source: Scottish Government, [Scottish Local Government Finance Statistics](https://www.gov.scot/binaries/content/documents/govscot/publications/statistics/2026/02/scottish-local-government-finance-statistics-2024-25/documents/la-level---net-revenue-expenditure-by-subservice/la-level---net-revenue-expenditure-by-subservice/govscot%3Adocument/Scottish%2BLocal%2BGovernment%2BFinance%2BStatistics%2B%2528SLGFS%2529%2B2024-25%2B-%2BLA%2BLevel%2B-%2BNet%2BRevenue%2BExpenditure%2Bby%2BSubservice%2B-%2B2026-01-09.xlsx), published 3 February 2026. ## Where it sits, and what is below it - UK total - Nation - Department or service body - Local body - Spending category - Line or transaction - United Kingdom - Scotland - Social work: councils in Scotland - Orkney Islands ### Orkney Islands Net revenue expenditure on social work from the council’s local finance return, net of all grants and income. Most adult social care is paid over to the Integration Joint Board, which runs it with the NHS. **£33m** in 2024-25 (cash); £34m in 2025-26 prices; £1,496 per resident; +5.5% on a year earlier in cash, +1.3% in real terms. | Spending category | Cash, 2024-25 | Real terms (2025-26 prices) | Per resident | Real change on a year earlier | Source | Below this | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Adult social care, including the payment to the Integration Joint Board](#sd-S12000023-adults)Details | £31m | £32m | — | +3.4% | [Scottish Government](https://www.gov.scot/binaries/content/documents/govscot/publications/statistics/2026/02/scottish-local-government-finance-statistics-2024-25/documents/la-level---net-revenue-expenditure-by-subservice/la-level---net-revenue-expenditure-by-subservice/govscot%3Adocument/Scottish%2BLocal%2BGovernment%2BFinance%2BStatistics%2B%2528SLGFS%2529%2B2024-25%2B-%2BLA%2BLevel%2B-%2BNet%2BRevenue%2BExpenditure%2Bby%2BSubservice%2B-%2B2026-01-09.xlsx) | Broken down below | | Real terms (2025-26 prices)£32mPer resident—Real change on a year earlier+3.4%Source[Scottish Government](https://www.gov.scot/binaries/content/documents/govscot/publications/statistics/2026/02/scottish-local-government-finance-statistics-2024-25/documents/la-level---net-revenue-expenditure-by-subservice/la-level---net-revenue-expenditure-by-subservice/govscot%3Adocument/Scottish%2BLocal%2BGovernment%2BFinance%2BStatistics%2B%2528SLGFS%2529%2B2024-25%2B-%2BLA%2BLevel%2B-%2BNet%2BRevenue%2BExpenditure%2Bby%2BSubservice%2B-%2B2026-01-09.xlsx)Below thisBroken down below | | | | | | | | Children’s social careDetails | £2m | £2m | — | −21.8% | [Scottish Government](https://www.gov.scot/binaries/content/documents/govscot/publications/statistics/2026/02/scottish-local-government-finance-statistics-2024-25/documents/la-level---net-revenue-expenditure-by-subservice/la-level---net-revenue-expenditure-by-subservice/govscot%3Adocument/Scottish%2BLocal%2BGovernment%2BFinance%2BStatistics%2B%2528SLGFS%2529%2B2024-25%2B-%2BLA%2BLevel%2B-%2BNet%2BRevenue%2BExpenditure%2Bby%2BSubservice%2B-%2B2026-01-09.xlsx) | Line or transaction not published: The Scottish returns publish children’s social work as one line for each council; the split by service is in Scotland’s own social work statistics, which do not report spending. | | Real terms (2025-26 prices)£2mPer resident—Real change on a year earlier−21.8%Source[Scottish Government](https://www.gov.scot/binaries/content/documents/govscot/publications/statistics/2026/02/scottish-local-government-finance-statistics-2024-25/documents/la-level---net-revenue-expenditure-by-subservice/la-level---net-revenue-expenditure-by-subservice/govscot%3Adocument/Scottish%2BLocal%2BGovernment%2BFinance%2BStatistics%2B%2528SLGFS%2529%2B2024-25%2B-%2BLA%2BLevel%2B-%2BNet%2BRevenue%2BExpenditure%2Bby%2BSubservice%2B-%2B2026-01-09.xlsx)Below thisLine or transaction not published: The Scottish returns publish children’s social work as one line for each council; the split by service is in Scotland’s own social work statistics, which do not report spending. | | | | | | | - United Kingdom - Scotland - Social work: councils in Scotland - [Orkney Islands](/social-care/orkney-islands/) - Adult social care, including the payment to the Integration Joint Board ### Adult social care, including the payment to the Integration Joint Board **£31m** in 2024-25 (cash); £32m in 2025-26 prices; +7.5% on a year earlier in cash, +3.4% in real terms. | Line or transaction | Cash, 2024-25 | Real terms (2025-26 prices) | Per resident | Real change on a year earlier | Source | Below this | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Paid to the Integration Joint BoardDetails | £33m | £34m | — | +1.3% | [Scottish Government](https://www.gov.scot/binaries/content/documents/govscot/publications/statistics/2026/02/scottish-local-government-finance-statistics-2024-25/documents/la-level---net-revenue-expenditure-by-subservice/la-level---net-revenue-expenditure-by-subservice/govscot%3Adocument/Scottish%2BLocal%2BGovernment%2BFinance%2BStatistics%2B%2528SLGFS%2529%2B2024-25%2B-%2BLA%2BLevel%2B-%2BNet%2BRevenue%2BExpenditure%2Bby%2BSubservice%2B-%2B2026-01-09.xlsx) | | | Real terms (2025-26 prices)£34mPer resident—Real change on a year earlier+1.3%Source[Scottish Government](https://www.gov.scot/binaries/content/documents/govscot/publications/statistics/2026/02/scottish-local-government-finance-statistics-2024-25/documents/la-level---net-revenue-expenditure-by-subservice/la-level---net-revenue-expenditure-by-subservice/govscot%3Adocument/Scottish%2BLocal%2BGovernment%2BFinance%2BStatistics%2B%2528SLGFS%2529%2B2024-25%2B-%2BLA%2BLevel%2B-%2BNet%2BRevenue%2BExpenditure%2Bby%2BSubservice%2B-%2B2026-01-09.xlsx) | | | | | | | | Criminal justice social workDetails | −£0m | −£0m | — | +24.5% | [Scottish Government](https://www.gov.scot/binaries/content/documents/govscot/publications/statistics/2026/02/scottish-local-government-finance-statistics-2024-25/documents/la-level---net-revenue-expenditure-by-subservice/la-level---net-revenue-expenditure-by-subservice/govscot%3Adocument/Scottish%2BLocal%2BGovernment%2BFinance%2BStatistics%2B%2528SLGFS%2529%2B2024-25%2B-%2BLA%2BLevel%2B-%2BNet%2BRevenue%2BExpenditure%2Bby%2BSubservice%2B-%2B2026-01-09.xlsx) | | | Real terms (2025-26 prices)−£0mPer resident—Real change on a year earlier+24.5%Source[Scottish Government](https://www.gov.scot/binaries/content/documents/govscot/publications/statistics/2026/02/scottish-local-government-finance-statistics-2024-25/documents/la-level---net-revenue-expenditure-by-subservice/la-level---net-revenue-expenditure-by-subservice/govscot%3Adocument/Scottish%2BLocal%2BGovernment%2BFinance%2BStatistics%2B%2528SLGFS%2529%2B2024-25%2B-%2BLA%2BLevel%2B-%2BNet%2BRevenue%2BExpenditure%2Bby%2BSubservice%2B-%2B2026-01-09.xlsx) | | | | | | | | Other adult servicesDetails | −£0m | −£1m | — | +35.6% | [Scottish Government](https://www.gov.scot/binaries/content/documents/govscot/publications/statistics/2026/02/scottish-local-government-finance-statistics-2024-25/documents/la-level---net-revenue-expenditure-by-subservice/la-level---net-revenue-expenditure-by-subservice/govscot%3Adocument/Scottish%2BLocal%2BGovernment%2BFinance%2BStatistics%2B%2528SLGFS%2529%2B2024-25%2B-%2BLA%2BLevel%2B-%2BNet%2BRevenue%2BExpenditure%2Bby%2BSubservice%2B-%2B2026-01-09.xlsx) | | | Real terms (2025-26 prices)−£1mPer resident—Real change on a year earlier+35.6%Source[Scottish Government](https://www.gov.scot/binaries/content/documents/govscot/publications/statistics/2026/02/scottish-local-government-finance-statistics-2024-25/documents/la-level---net-revenue-expenditure-by-subservice/la-level---net-revenue-expenditure-by-subservice/govscot%3Adocument/Scottish%2BLocal%2BGovernment%2BFinance%2BStatistics%2B%2528SLGFS%2529%2B2024-25%2B-%2BLA%2BLevel%2B-%2BNet%2BRevenue%2BExpenditure%2Bby%2BSubservice%2B-%2B2026-01-09.xlsx) | | | | | | | | Adult social care run by the council directlyDetails | −£1m | −£1m | — | +20.3% | [Scottish Government](https://www.gov.scot/binaries/content/documents/govscot/publications/statistics/2026/02/scottish-local-government-finance-statistics-2024-25/documents/la-level---net-revenue-expenditure-by-subservice/la-level---net-revenue-expenditure-by-subservice/govscot%3Adocument/Scottish%2BLocal%2BGovernment%2BFinance%2BStatistics%2B%2528SLGFS%2529%2B2024-25%2B-%2BLA%2BLevel%2B-%2BNet%2BRevenue%2BExpenditure%2Bby%2BSubservice%2B-%2B2026-01-09.xlsx) | | | Real terms (2025-26 prices)−£1mPer resident—Real change on a year earlier+20.3%Source[Scottish Government](https://www.gov.scot/binaries/content/documents/govscot/publications/statistics/2026/02/scottish-local-government-finance-statistics-2024-25/documents/la-level---net-revenue-expenditure-by-subservice/la-level---net-revenue-expenditure-by-subservice/govscot%3Adocument/Scottish%2BLocal%2BGovernment%2BFinance%2BStatistics%2B%2528SLGFS%2529%2B2024-25%2B-%2BLA%2BLevel%2B-%2BNet%2BRevenue%2BExpenditure%2Bby%2BSubservice%2B-%2B2026-01-09.xlsx) | | | | | | | Cash is as published. Real terms are in 2025-26 prices, using HM Treasury’s GDP deflator. Per resident divides by ONS mid-year population for the area the body serves. Changes compare the same body in consecutive years. ## What is recorded alongside the money These figures are published beside the funding, not as its result. Demand, geography, recording practice and many other things differ between areas and change over time; none of these charts shows cause and effect. | Measure | Orkney Islands | Scotland | Period | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Social work spending per resident, ScotlandDetails | £1,496 | £879 | 2024-25 | | Scotland£879Period2024-25 | | | | **Social work spending per resident, Scotland: Orkney Islands and comparisons** Net revenue expenditure on social work (adults, including the payment to the Integration Joint Board, and children) per resident, Scotland. Unitary councils. **The numbers behind this chart** | Year | Orkney Islands | Scotland | | --- | --- | --- | | 2022-23Details | £1,230 | £788 | | Scotland£788 | | | | 2023-24Details | £1,417 | £836 | | Scotland£836 | | | | 2024-25Details | £1,496 | £879 | | Scotland£879 | | | Figure as of 3 February 2026. Source: [Scottish Government](https://www.gov.scot/binaries/content/documents/govscot/publications/statistics/2026/02/scottish-local-government-finance-statistics-2024-25/documents/la-level---net-revenue-expenditure-by-subservice/la-level---net-revenue-expenditure-by-subservice/govscot%3Adocument/Scottish%2BLocal%2BGovernment%2BFinance%2BStatistics%2B%2528SLGFS%2529%2B2024-25%2B-%2BLA%2BLevel%2B-%2BNet%2BRevenue%2BExpenditure%2Bby%2BSubservice%2B-%2B2026-01-09.xlsx). ## What these figures do and don't show - **Nations are never added up or ranked.** England’s adult figures are gross spending from the adult social care finance return, its children’s figures gross spending from the section 251 return; Wales publishes net spending before specific grants and Scotland net spending after all grants. Each nation is compared only with itself. - **Gross includes money that is not the council’s own.** England’s adult social care spending includes what people pay towards their care and what the NHS contributes (the Better Care Fund); the table of where the money comes from shows each. - **Care homes against care at home** is a split of long-term care spending in England; short-term care, assessment and commissioning are outside it. Wales’s split is of all adult spending, so the two shares are not the same measure. - **Self-funders are not here.** People who arrange and pay for their own care home place or home care are outside these returns, so care home spending here is councils’ spending, not the size of the market. - **Cost per looked-after child** divides a year’s spending by the children in care on one day; the spending also covers care leavers and adoption support. - **Nothing here shows cause and effect.** Spending, people supported, children in care and staff are shown side by side; need, local prices and how councils record spending all differ. - **Northern Ireland** runs social care through its Health and Social Care Trusts, which do not publish it by trust in a common table, so it appears at nation level only. Where this sits: United Kingdom → Scotland → Social work: councils in Scotland → Orkney Islands. Figures from data/services/social-care.json, generated 29 September 2026. ## Use this data The figures belong to the bodies that published them and are used under their terms, listed in [Sources for this page](#sources); most are Crown copyright under the Open Government Licence. Only our own words, analysis, charts and derived calculations are ours, published under [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/): reuse them, including commercially, if you credit [Tekstak Ltd](https://tek-stak.co.uk) and link back to this page. ### Download - [Orkney Islands: the dataset (CSV)](/data/services/social-care.csv) [JSON](/data/services/social-care.json) - [All data, field definitions and licences](/data/) ## Sources for this page | Source | Publisher | Figures as of | Updated | Licence | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Scottish Local Government Finance Statistics](https://www.gov.scot/binaries/content/documents/govscot/publications/statistics/2026/02/scottish-local-government-finance-statistics-2024-25/documents/la-level---net-revenue-expenditure-by-subservice/la-level---net-revenue-expenditure-by-subservice/govscot%3Adocument/Scottish%2BLocal%2BGovernment%2BFinance%2BStatistics%2B%2528SLGFS%2529%2B2024-25%2B-%2BLA%2BLevel%2B-%2BNet%2BRevenue%2BExpenditure%2Bby%2BSubservice%2B-%2B2026-01-09.xlsx) | Scottish Government | 3 February 2026 | annual | [Open Government Licence v3.0](https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/) | | [Children’s social work statistics: looked after children 2024-25, additional tables (table 22)](https://www.gov.scot/binaries/content/documents/govscot/publications/statistics/2026/04/childrens-social-work-statistics-looked-after-children---2024-25/documents/childrens-social-work-statistics-2024-25---looked-after-children---additional-tables/childrens-social-work-statistics-2024-25---looked-after-children---additional-tables/govscot%3Adocument/Children%2527s%2BSocial%2BWork%2BStatistics%2B-%2BLooked%2BAfter%2BChildren%2BStatistics%2B2024-25%2B-%2BAdditional%2BTables.xlsx) | Scottish Government | 28 April 2026 | annual | [Open Government Licence v3.0](https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/) | Each source's figures are used under the licence shown. Our own words, analysis, charts and derived calculations are ours, under [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). ## Related pages - [Back to Social care: adults and children, by council](https://whereyourmoneygoes.co.uk/social-care/) - [Where does my tax money actually go?](https://whereyourmoneygoes.co.uk/for-every-100-pounds-of-tax/) - [How much is council tax and what does it pay for?](https://whereyourmoneygoes.co.uk/council-tax/) - [How much crime is there where I live?](https://whereyourmoneygoes.co.uk/crime/) ## More from this publisher - [UK tax calculators](https://howlongisit.co.uk) Published by [Tekstak Ltd](https://tek-stak.co.uk). Our words, analysis, charts and derived calculations: CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), credit [Tekstak Ltd](https://tek-stak.co.uk). The figures belong to the publishers listed under Sources and are used under their licences. Figures last updated 29 September 2026.