The Scottish Parliament have approved the Care Reform (Scotland) Bill, a bill which began life when the idea of a National Care Service was proposed and which has lived on since that idea was ditched.
Among the most notable changes to be brought in by the Bill is the right of carers to take breaks with local authorities stepping in to help make sure that can happen.
Another change will come about following the inclusion of ‘Anne’s Law’ into the legislation. Anne Duke was denied visits from her family for months during Covid, while she was struggling with early-onset dementia. She died in November 2021. The legislation will ensure that people in care homes will have the right to have visits from a loved one, no matter the scenario.
Other changes include:
- 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 Maree Todd 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.’
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