In 1990 The National Health Service and Community Care Act led to massive changes in the organisation and delivery of social work services in Scotland; it required local authorities to help vulnerable adults and their carers to remain in the community. Under the Act, social care departments were given the responsibility for community care for older people. Services would be now geared to what the older person needed rather than what was actually available. Home care, day care and respite care were to be developed to help people live in their own homes wherever possible.
The Act was followed by the introduction of the Regulations for Registration of Residential Care Homes which introduced minimum standards for accessibility. This meant the closure of some of the Boards older homes where were impossible to repurpose in line with modern standards. While some existing homes were refurbished to provide more comfortable settings for residents, for example Queens Bay was refurbished to provide single en-suite rooms and 2 double rooms en-suite for couples. Other homes were adapted to provide a wider range of services, such as Balmedie which was refurbished to provide a day centre, a long term unit and a respite unit.
Services for children with learning disabilities expanded with the addition of the Mallard in 1995. Services for people with mental health issues also grew with the establishment of Morven in 1992. Cunningham House opened in 1994 replacing the People's Palace Night Shelter. The service provides accommodation and support for people who are homeless for up to 12 weeks
