Earlier this week, SFHA held a positive and constructive meeting with Maree Todd, Minister for Social Care, Mental Wellbeing and Sport, on the need for housing to be more integrated into the forthcoming National Care Service.
Following an Independent Review of Adult Social Care in Scotland, the resulting Feeley Report made 53 recommendations, including that a National Care Service should be established, which would move accountability for social care support from local authorities to Scottish Ministers. It would also establish local Care Boards which would be central to the operation of the service.
The National Care Service Bill was published in June 2022 and launched by then-Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, Humza Yousaf. MSPs were set to have their first vote on the legislation in June but it was this week confirmed that it would be pushed back until after the summer, to allow time for more discussions.
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Proposed membership of care boards to be set out more clearly, recognising the importance of co-design and the strategic importance of the housing sector in achieving the aims of the NCS.
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Local Government Housing Committee convenors or chairs to have a seat on Care Boards
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Subcommittees to involve housing providers – for example, Glasgow health & Social Care Partnership has a sub – committee for housing
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An additional principle added to the National Care Service Bill, that services should be designed collaboratively across the system, including all relevant stakeholders, to ensure cross cutting rights like good quality housing and appropriate care and support are upheld. Current principles refer to people who use services and family carers.
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Collaboration with the housing sector to plan and deliver joint responsibilities for homeless people that will be included in the housing bill. Proposals from Housing Directorate for the Housing Bill will place duties on Public Bodies to Ask and Act to Prevent Homelessness making it even more important to have an integrated system that includes housing
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The pay and conditions gap between the social care workforce in similar roles to NHS staff closing: it is unfair and creates great difficulties for our members who provide care in recruitment and retention. Despite a government commitment to Fair Work in Social Care dating back to 2019, the salary gap between equivalent posts in the NHS and third sector has increased from 14.1 to 16.8% in the past two years.
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Greater clarity on ethical commissioning, procurement and fair work
Ms Todd was open to our requests regarding the composition of Care Boards and an additional principle on the Bill and was quite strongly in support of the need for parity between statutory and third sector social care providers. SFHA are now in discussion with officials on aspects of the above and will keep members informed.
