Plans to transform social care across Scotland will be progressed
after the Scottish Parliament approved the Care Reform (Scotland)
Bill.
Thousands of people with experience of accessing, delivering and
receiving social care, social work and community health services
have helped co-design the legislation, putting people at the
heart of reform.
The Bill will bring forward a number of enhancements to social
care that include:
- enshrining Anne's Law into legislation to uphold the rights
of people living in adult care homes to see loved ones and
identify an essential care supporter
- strengthening support for unpaid carers by establishing a
legal right to breaks, following the additional £13 million
already allocated for up to 40,000 carers to take voluntary
sector short breaks
- empowering people to access information on their care and
improving the flow of information across care settings
- improving access to independent advocacy to guarantee people
are heard and involved in decisions about their own care
- creating a National Chief Social Work Adviser role to provide
professional leadership and champion the sector, as part of plans
for a new National Social Work Agency.
Alongside the Bill, an advisory board will be established to
drive progress and scrutinise reform, replacing an interim board
that met for the first time in May.
Social Care Minister said: “More than 200,000 people
across Scotland access care each year.
“Anyone may need care during their lives, and that care should be
high quality and delivered consistently across Scotland. That is
why we have been so determined to bring forward much-needed
reform, alongside the work we are already doing through the near
£2.2 billion total investment in social care and integration in
2025-26.
“Reform is not easy to deliver and it is being made more
challenging by recent UK Government changes to Employer National
Insurance Contributions and changes to migration. These will
undoubtedly impact on care delivery.
“However, we have remained steadfast in our commitment to deliver
the sustainable change to social care that people urgently need.
“This is a significant step that will strengthen the rights of
people living in care homes, support unpaid carers and social
workers and improve experiences for the many people who access
social care across Scotland.”
Background
