| Q. What is the Regulation
of Care Bill?
A. The Regulation of Care (Scotland)
Bill proposes to provide a framework for the setting of national standards
for all care services. It seeks to ensure quality standards from
cradle to grave.
Q. Why do we need
it?
A. It is generally accepted that
the previous regulatory framework was fragmentary. It did not apply
to all types of care in all settings, and in residential settings was formally
split between “social” and “nursing” care. Services for adults have
changed fast and regulation did not keep pace.
The framework was ineffective in services
for very young children and there was no consistency across the country.
As well as this, health and social work departments inspected their own
services, with no independent element.
Q. How does the Bill
change this?
A. This Bill is what is known as "enabling"
legislation. This means that it establishes a framework for regulation
with much of the substantive details still to follow under the order-making
powers given to Scottish Ministers under the Bill.
The Bill establishes who new non-departmental
public body, the Scottish Commission for the Regulation of Care and the
Scottish Social Services Council. Together, these bodies will regulate
care in Scotland and provide a national strategy and framework.
Q. What is the Scottish
Commission for the Regulation of Care?
A. The Commission, to be located
in Dundee, will operate under the overall control of Scottish Ministers
and will regulate the following services:
· Early education and childcare
· Support services (including home
care and day care)
· Care homes
· Independent (i.e. private) healthcare
· Nursing agencies
· Housing support services
· Secure accommodation
· Boarding schools and hostels
where these are for welfare and care
· Accommodation for the welfare
and care of offenders
· Fostering and adoption agencies
The number of services to be regulated
by the Commission is estimated at 16,100.
The Commission has a general duty of promoting
the quality and improvement of care services in Scotland through national
inspection and registration.
The first task of the Commission will be
to set out a framework for action and accountability. The focus of
regulation will change and will be on the users of services rather than
the buildings which house them.
Q. What is the Scottish
Social Services Council?
The Council, whilst independent, will also
operate under the general guidance of ministers. All people working
in appropriate professions will be required to register with the Council,
which will:
· Publish codes of practice for
staff
· Establish registers for particular
groups of staff
· Regulate the education and training
of social workers
Q. How will
this help?
This will help by
ending the difference in quality of service between different areas of
the country. It will also ensure that all staff working with those
in need of care are properly trained and regulated and can provide the
best possible service for those who need it most.
Click
here to read the Regulation of Care Bill
Click
here to read the Parliament's Stage 3 debate on the Bill
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