diff --git a/ui/social-bot/src/App.jsx b/ui/social-bot/src/App.jsx
index 73e1876..cdf0f5f 100644
--- a/ui/social-bot/src/App.jsx
+++ b/ui/social-bot/src/App.jsx
@@ -61,6 +61,9 @@ import { NetworkPanel } from './components/NetworkPanel.jsx';
 // Waypoint editor (issue #261)
 import { WaypointEditor } from './components/WaypointEditor.jsx';
 
+// Status header (issue #269)
+import { StatusHeader } from './components/StatusHeader.jsx';
+
 const TAB_GROUPS = [
   {
     label: 'SOCIAL',
@@ -197,6 +200,9 @@ export default function App() {
         )}
       </header>
 
+      {/* ── Status Header ── */}
+      <StatusHeader subscribe={subscribe} />
+
       {/* ── Tab Navigation ── */}
       <nav className="bg-[#070712] border-b border-cyan-950 shrink-0 overflow-x-auto">
         <div className="flex min-w-max">
diff --git a/ui/social-bot/src/components/StatusHeader.jsx b/ui/social-bot/src/components/StatusHeader.jsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..28ace18
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ui/social-bot/src/components/StatusHeader.jsx
@@ -0,0 +1,260 @@
+/**
+ * StatusHeader.jsx — Persistent status bar with robot health indicators
+ *
+ * Features:
+ *   - Battery percentage and status indicator
+ *   - WiFi signal strength (RSSI)
+ *   - Motor status (running/stopped/error)
+ *   - Emergency state indicator (active/clear)
+ *   - System uptime
+ *   - Current operational mode (idle/navigation/social/docking)
+ *   - Real-time updates from ROS topics
+ *   - Always visible at top of dashboard
+ */
+
+import { useEffect, useState } from 'react';
+
+function StatusHeader({ subscribe }) {
+  const [batteryPercent, setBatteryPercent] = useState(null);
+  const [batteryVoltage, setBatteryVoltage] = useState(null);
+  const [wifiRssi, setWifiRssi] = useState(null);
+  const [wifiQuality, setWifiQuality] = useState('unknown');
+  const [motorStatus, setMotorStatus] = useState('idle');
+  const [motorCurrent, setMotorCurrent] = useState(null);
+  const [emergencyActive, setEmergencyActive] = useState(false);
+  const [uptime, setUptime] = useState(0);
+  const [currentMode, setCurrentMode] = useState('idle');
+  const [connected, setConnected] = useState(true);
+
+  // Battery subscriber
+  useEffect(() => {
+    const unsubBattery = subscribe(
+      '/saltybot/battery',
+      'sensor_msgs/BatteryState',
+      (msg) => {
+        try {
+          setBatteryPercent(Math.round(msg.percentage * 100));
+          setBatteryVoltage(msg.voltage?.toFixed(1));
+        } catch (e) {
+          console.error('Error parsing battery data:', e);
+        }
+      }
+    );
+    return unsubBattery;
+  }, [subscribe]);
+
+  // WiFi RSSI subscriber
+  useEffect(() => {
+    const unsubWifi = subscribe(
+      '/saltybot/wifi_rssi',
+      'std_msgs/Float32',
+      (msg) => {
+        try {
+          const rssi = Math.round(msg.data);
+          setWifiRssi(rssi);
+
+          if (rssi > -50) setWifiQuality('excellent');
+          else if (rssi > -60) setWifiQuality('good');
+          else if (rssi > -70) setWifiQuality('fair');
+          else if (rssi > -80) setWifiQuality('weak');
+          else setWifiQuality('poor');
+        } catch (e) {
+          console.error('Error parsing WiFi data:', e);
+        }
+      }
+    );
+    return unsubWifi;
+  }, [subscribe]);
+
+  // Motor status subscriber
+  useEffect(() => {
+    const unsubMotor = subscribe(
+      '/saltybot/motor_status',
+      'std_msgs/String',
+      (msg) => {
+        try {
+          const status = msg.data?.toLowerCase() || 'unknown';
+          setMotorStatus(status);
+        } catch (e) {
+          console.error('Error parsing motor status:', e);
+        }
+      }
+    );
+    return unsubMotor;
+  }, [subscribe]);
+
+  // Motor current subscriber
+  useEffect(() => {
+    const unsubCurrent = subscribe(
+      '/saltybot/motor_current',
+      'std_msgs/Float32',
+      (msg) => {
+        try {
+          setMotorCurrent(Math.round(msg.data * 100) / 100);
+        } catch (e) {
+          console.error('Error parsing motor current:', e);
+        }
+      }
+    );
+    return unsubCurrent;
+  }, [subscribe]);
+
+  // Emergency subscriber
+  useEffect(() => {
+    const unsubEmergency = subscribe(
+      '/saltybot/emergency',
+      'std_msgs/Bool',
+      (msg) => {
+        try {
+          setEmergencyActive(msg.data === true);
+        } catch (e) {
+          console.error('Error parsing emergency status:', e);
+        }
+      }
+    );
+    return unsubEmergency;
+  }, [subscribe]);
+
+  // Uptime tracking
+  useEffect(() => {
+    const startTime = Date.now();
+    const interval = setInterval(() => {
+      const elapsed = Math.floor((Date.now() - startTime) / 1000);
+      const hours = Math.floor(elapsed / 3600);
+      const minutes = Math.floor((elapsed % 3600) / 60);
+      setUptime(`${hours}h ${minutes}m`);
+    }, 1000);
+
+    return () => clearInterval(interval);
+  }, []);
+
+  // Current mode subscriber
+  useEffect(() => {
+    const unsubMode = subscribe(
+      '/saltybot/current_mode',
+      'std_msgs/String',
+      (msg) => {
+        try {
+          const mode = msg.data?.toLowerCase() || 'idle';
+          setCurrentMode(mode);
+        } catch (e) {
+          console.error('Error parsing mode:', e);
+        }
+      }
+    );
+    return unsubMode;
+  }, [subscribe]);
+
+  // Connection status
+  useEffect(() => {
+    const timer = setTimeout(() => {
+      setConnected(batteryPercent !== null);
+    }, 2000);
+    return () => clearTimeout(timer);
+  }, [batteryPercent]);
+
+  const getBatteryColor = () => {
+    if (batteryPercent === null) return 'text-gray-600';
+    if (batteryPercent > 60) return 'text-green-400';
+    if (batteryPercent > 30) return 'text-amber-400';
+    return 'text-red-400';
+  };
+
+  const getWifiColor = () => {
+    if (wifiRssi === null) return 'text-gray-600';
+    if (wifiQuality === 'excellent' || wifiQuality === 'good') return 'text-green-400';
+    if (wifiQuality === 'fair') return 'text-amber-400';
+    return 'text-red-400';
+  };
+
+  const getMotorColor = () => {
+    if (motorStatus === 'running') return 'text-green-400';
+    if (motorStatus === 'idle') return 'text-gray-500';
+    return 'text-red-400';
+  };
+
+  const getModeColor = () => {
+    switch (currentMode) {
+      case 'navigation':
+        return 'text-cyan-400';
+      case 'social':
+        return 'text-purple-400';
+      case 'docking':
+        return 'text-blue-400';
+      default:
+        return 'text-gray-500';
+    }
+  };
+
+  return (
+    <div className="flex items-center justify-between px-4 py-2 bg-[#0a0a0f] border-b border-cyan-950/50 h-14 shrink-0 gap-4">
+      {/* Connection status */}
+      <div className="flex items-center gap-2">
+        <div className={`w-2 h-2 rounded-full ${connected ? 'bg-green-400' : 'bg-red-500'}`} />
+        <span className="text-xs text-gray-600">
+          {connected ? 'CONNECTED' : 'DISCONNECTED'}
+        </span>
+      </div>
+
+      {/* Battery */}
+      <div className="flex items-center gap-1.5 px-2 py-1 rounded bg-gray-900 border border-gray-800">
+        <span className={`text-xs font-bold ${getBatteryColor()}`}>🔋</span>
+        <span className={`text-xs font-mono ${getBatteryColor()}`}>
+          {batteryPercent !== null ? `${batteryPercent}%` : '—'}
+        </span>
+        {batteryVoltage && (
+          <span className="text-xs text-gray-600">{batteryVoltage}V</span>
+        )}
+      </div>
+
+      {/* WiFi */}
+      <div className="flex items-center gap-1.5 px-2 py-1 rounded bg-gray-900 border border-gray-800">
+        <span className={`text-xs font-bold ${getWifiColor()}`}>📡</span>
+        <span className={`text-xs font-mono ${getWifiColor()}`}>
+          {wifiRssi !== null ? `${wifiRssi}dBm` : '—'}
+        </span>
+        <span className="text-xs text-gray-600 capitalize">{wifiQuality}</span>
+      </div>
+
+      {/* Motors */}
+      <div className="flex items-center gap-1.5 px-2 py-1 rounded bg-gray-900 border border-gray-800">
+        <span className={`text-xs font-bold ${getMotorColor()}`}>⚙️</span>
+        <span className={`text-xs font-mono capitalize ${getMotorColor()}`}>
+          {motorStatus}
+        </span>
+        {motorCurrent !== null && (
+          <span className="text-xs text-gray-600">{motorCurrent}A</span>
+        )}
+      </div>
+
+      {/* Emergency */}
+      <div
+        className={`flex items-center gap-1.5 px-2 py-1 rounded border ${
+          emergencyActive
+            ? 'bg-red-950 border-red-700'
+            : 'bg-gray-900 border-gray-800'
+        }`}
+      >
+        <span className={emergencyActive ? 'text-red-400 text-xs' : 'text-gray-600 text-xs'}>
+          {emergencyActive ? '🚨 EMERGENCY' : '✓ Safe'}
+        </span>
+      </div>
+
+      {/* Uptime */}
+      <div className="flex items-center gap-1.5 px-2 py-1 rounded bg-gray-900 border border-gray-800">
+        <span className="text-xs text-gray-600">⏱️</span>
+        <span className="text-xs font-mono text-gray-500">{uptime}</span>
+      </div>
+
+      {/* Current Mode */}
+      <div className="flex items-center gap-1.5 px-2 py-1 rounded bg-gray-900 border border-gray-800">
+        <span className="text-xs text-gray-600">Mode:</span>
+        <span className={`text-xs font-bold capitalize ${getModeColor()}`}>
+          {currentMode}
+        </span>
+      </div>
+    </div>
+  );
+}
+
+export { StatusHeader };