Book your place for SFHA's new Health, Care and Independent Living Forum
Eileen McMullan, SFHA Policy, Lead discusses the federation's new Health Care and Independant Living forum which launches on 27 September (14:00–16:00).
Following a review of our forums for members, we identified a significant gap in for members to focus on health, care and independent living. Members face specific issues relating to these services, including, but not exclusively:
- health and social care integration and the National Care Service
- contracts, commissioning and procurement
- regulation
- models of care and technology
- capital investment and risk
- aids and adaptations
- workforce challenges
- partnership working.
The terms of reference and purpose of the forum will be finalised with members, and it is proposed that we should meet at least on a quarterly basis with opportunities to hold specific meetings as things arise. It should cover at least three areas:
- policy and information
- sharing practice and risk
- creating space for innovation with guest speakers
The policy context
On policy issues relating to housing, health and care, there is a great deal of activity within the Scottish Government that will impact on SFHA members. Commitments in the government's Housing to 2040 strategy focus on preventing homelessness and on independent living, and we are anticipating the review of Housing for Varying Needs and a review of aids and adaptions.
Housing to 2040 included connecting housing with recommendations in the Independent Review of Social Care, now superseded by the consultation on a National Care Service and the National Care Service Bill. This included a commitment to work at national and local level with health, social care, housing services and others that align housing support with social care services. Disappointingly, one of the Scottish Government’s flagship policies, the National Care Service, so far, hasn’t reciprocated that commitment, so it is important that SFHA and its members able to engage with this key policy.
For members who deliver housing with care and support, other broader policy areas impact in different ways. For example, potentially higher development costs, human rights and advancing equality, homelessness, poverty, and cost of living, to name just a few. It is important to make sure that we can raise specific issues relating to care and support with policy makers.
Sharing practice
SFHA members have also expressed an interest in a having a space to share ideas, good practice and the challenges they face in a safe environment with other senior leaders, and we should explore how we can provide an opportunity to facilitate that. We envisage that the forum will also provide an opportunity to invite speakers to talk to members about innovation, policy and practice.
This forum will be a great opportunity to share ideas and influence policy.
I hope to see you there.