Conceptualising a National Care Framework
“In conceptualising and designing a process to support the development of a National
Care Framework, it is important to build an understanding of the current context. The
Independent Review has achieved part of this in capturing the lived experience of people who access and people who provide care and support (which is the most important part). However, there is still work required to build an understanding of:

1. the structures, processes and mechanisms of how the current system ‘operates’, and
2. what areas of this ‘operation’ are currently impacted by the recommendations as they stand.

The Independent Review provides a high-level diagram of a proposed ‘National Care Service’ structure; however, it fails to articulate the complexity involved and the process of how this can be achieved. The following diagram (Figure 1) aims to provide a starter for this work by visualising the complexity of the current system and the disconnect that exists in the adult social care system in Scotland.

The visualisation aims to show the complexity of the current system, communication
gaps and points of disconnect. There are many oversight groups and parts of the system that while accountable to one another and receive funding, do not communicate in a streamlined manner – notably in ensuring that people who access care and support are fully supported by the parts of the system designed to help them.

The visual is notintended to be a complete representation of every aspect of the system, however it is evident that greater citizen involvement needs to be prioritised and that vision, innovation, improvement, regulation, workforce, national contracts, complex care and set national requirements and budget distribution need to be determined in a more coherent manner. The recommendations of the Independent Review provide an idea of what a ‘National Care Service’ would involve, with greater oversight provided to the Scottish Government and Ministers, regulatory authorities such as the Care Inspectorate (CI), Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) and the Independent Living Fund (ILF), as well as greater involvement of partners in delivering planning, commissioning and procurement and local planning and engagement. While this provides an idea of how collaborative working may be supported and services might be streamlined, there are still many questions including what a reformed IJB will look like and more specifically, what mechanisms, processes and policy enablers will be developed to support changes and implementation in practice.”

Major implications for all who live and work in care homes in Scotland. Read in full at…

Scottish Care Source: Time-for-Change-Final-Version1.pdf