COMMUNITY CARE PROVIDERS SCOTLAND

Quick policy reference guide – September 2007

This document is intended to guide you through the policy maze affecting community care providers, children’s services providers and housing support providers. It covers policy areas only in relation to these ‘provider’ issues, and in no way claims to represent all policy initiatives which might affect member organisations.

This document is updated approximately twice a year to take account of new policy developments, most recently in September 2007.

There are several ways to search this document:

·  Alphabetically

·  By CCPS classification (planning and partnership, workforce, standards and regulation, quality improvement, reviews, funding, legislation and organisations)

·  Using the ‘find’ tool in the Edit menu to search for a particular word.

Hyperlinks are used throughout to help you to navigate through the document. Simply right click on a hyperlink (blue/underlined text) and select ‘open hyperlink’ to be taken to that section.

This document is designed for online use and not for use in hard copy; please be aware before printing this document that it currently runs to 81 pages.

Index A – Alphabetical Index

21st Century Social Work Review

A Vision for the Voluntary Sector – The Next Phase of Our Relationship

Achieving the Challenge

Action Plan for the Social Services Workforce

ADSW: Association of Directors of Social Work

Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) Act 2007

Adults With Incapacity Act

Association for Real Change

Audit Scotland

BASW: British Association of Social Workers (BASW)

Best Value

Better Outcomes for Older People

Care 21

Care Commission

Care Commission Quality Assessment Framework

Care Commission Regulating for Improvement Project

Care home funding tripartite group

Care in Scotland campaign

Care in Scotland group

Care Inquiry

Changing Children’s Services Fund

Changing Lives

Closing the Opportunity Gap

Communities Scotland

Community Care and Health (Scotland) Act 2002

Community Health Partnerships

Community Planning

Core Minimum Data Set

COSLA

COSLA Recruitment and Retention Task Force

The Crerar Review

Delayed Discharge

Delivering for Health

Dementia Services Development Centre

Direct Payments

Disclosure Scotland

Duplication working group (Registered Social Landlords Information Mapping Working Group)

E-care project

Early Years review

Essential Connections

EU directive on services of general interest

EU working time directive

Every Child Matters

Fire (Scotland) Act 2005

For Scotland’s Children

Free personal care

Full cost recovery

Futurebuilders

Getting it Right for Every Child

The Improvement Service

In Control

Integrated Assessment Framework for Children

Integrated children’s services planning

It’s Everyone’s Job to Make Sure I’m Alright

Joint Future

Joint Improvement Team

Joint inspection of children’s services

Joint inspection of services for people with learning disabilities

Kerr Report (The)

Learning Networks

Local Government in Scotland Act

Mental Health (Care and Treatment) Scotland Act

Mental Welfare Commission

National care standards review

National Workforce Group

National Workforce Strategy

NHS QIS

NHS reform bill

Our Health, Our Care, Our Say

OSCR: Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator

Partnerships in Practice

Performance Improvement Framework for Social Work

Protection of Children (Scotland) Act 2003

Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act 2007

Range and Capacity Review of Services for Older People

Ready, Willing and Able

Regulation of Care (Scotland) Act 2001

The Same As You

Scottish Consortium for Learning Disability

Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework

Scottish Development Centre for Mental Health

Scottish Executive Section 9 Funding

Scottish Executive Section 10 Funding

Scottish Federation of Housing Associations

Scottish Institute for Excellence in Social Work Education

Scottish Institute for Residential Child Care

Scottish Practice Learning Project

SCVO: Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations

Sector Skills Agreement

SSEC: Scottish Social Enterprise Coalition

SSSC: Scottish Social Services Council

Single Shared Assessment

Social Care Association

Social Enterprise

STRADA: Scottish Training on Drugs and Alcohol

Strategic funding review of the voluntary sector

Supporting Frontline Staff project (ADSW)

Supporting People

SWIA: Social Work Inspection Agency

Voluntary Health Scotland

Voluntary Sector Development Fund

Voluntary Sector Social Services Workforce Unit

Workforce Plus

Index B – CCPS classifications

Planning and partnerships

Workforce

Standards and regulation

Quality improvement

Reviews and policy documents

Funding

Legislation

Organisations

Planning and partnerships

Better Outcomes for Older People

Community Health Partnerships

Community Planning

E-care project

Essential Connections

Integrated Assessment Framework for Children

Integrated Children’s Services Planning

Joint Future

Joint Improvement Team

Joint Inspection of Children’s Services

Join Inspection of Services for People with Learning Disabilities

Partnership in Practice

Single Shared Assessment

Workforce

Achieving the Challenge

Action Plan for the Social Services Workforce

Care in Scotland campaign

Core Minimum Dataset

COSLA Recruitment and Retention Task Force

EU Working Time Directive

Learning Networks

National Workforce Group

National Workforce Strategy

Protection of Children (Scotland) Act 2003

Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act 2007

Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework

Scottish Practice Learning Project

Sector Skills Agreement

SSSC

Supporting Frontline Staff initiative

Voluntary Sector Development Fund

Voluntary Sector Social Services Workforce Unit

Standards and Regulation

Care Commission

Care Commission Quality Assessment Framework

Care Commission Regulating for Improvement project

Disclosure Scotland

Duplication Working Group

Joint Inspection of Children’s Services

Joint Inspection of Services for People with Learning Disabilities

National Care Standards Review

OSCR

Protection of Children (Scotland) Act 2003

Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act 2007

Quality/Improvement

Best Value

Care 21

Closing the Opportunity Gap

The Improvement Service

Performance Improvement Framework for Social Work

Reviews and policy documents

21st Century Review of Social Work

A Vision for the Voluntary Sector

Changing Lives

Crerar Review

Delivering for Health

Early Years Review

Every Child Matters

For Scotland’s Children

Free Personal Care

Getting it Right for Every Child

It’s Everyone’s Job To Make Sure I’m Alright

The Kerr Report

National Care Standards Review

Our Health, Our Care, Our Say

Range and Capacity Review of Services for Older People

Ready, Willing and Able

The Same As You

Workforce Plus

Funding

Best Value

Care Home Funding Tripartite Group

Changing Children’s Services Fund

COSLA care home fees/quality advisory group

Direct Payments

Full Cost Recovery

Futurebuilders Scotland

In Control

Scottish Executive Section 9 funding

Scottish Executive Section 10 funding

Social Enterprise

Strategic Funding Review of the Voluntary Sector

Supporting People

Voluntary Sector Development Fund

Legislation

Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) Act 2007

Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000

Care Inquiry

Community Care and Health (Scotland) Act 2002

EU Directive on Services of General Interest

EU Working Time Directive

Fire (Scotland) Act 2005

Local Government (Scotland) Act 2003

Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003

NHS Reform (Scotland) Act 2004

Protection of Children (Scotland) Act 2003

Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act 2007

Regulation of Care (Scotland) Act 2001

Organisations

ADSW

Association for Real Change (ARC)

Audit Scotland

BASW

Care Commission

Communities Scotland

COSLA

Dementia Services Development Centre

Mental Welfare Commission

NHS QIS

OSCR

SCLD

SCVO

SDCMH

SFHA

SIESWE

SIRCC

SSEC

SSSC

Social Care Association

STRADA

SWIA

VHS

VSSSWU

21st Century Social Work Review
What is it? / In June 2004, Scottish Ministers initiated a fundamental review of social work in light of the increasing complexity and demand for services and as well as repeated messages arising from case reviews. The Review's main aims were to make best use of valuable social work resources and to strengthen the contribution of social work to the delivery of integrated services.
Key objectives were to
·  clarify the role and purpose of social work
·  build a strong improvement framework and robust inspection regime
·  make best use of valuable social work resources
·  strengthen leadership and management, giving clear direction to the service
·  develop a competent confident work force
·  modernise legislation.
The Review was presented to Ministers in October 2005 and a report ‘Changing Lives’ was published in February 2006. CCPS was pleased to note the importance placed by the review on the role of the voluntary sector, although was disappointed that this was not highlighted by the Minister as one of the key issues in the Scottish Executive response to the document. A key point made by CCPS members and picked up by the review related to the importance of better commissioning and joint working arrangements in the mixed economy of care.
Effect on providers / Providers will be affected by the findings of the review and future policies influenced by it.
CCPS involvement / CCPS was represented on the 21st Century Social Work Review Stakeholders group by Nick Baxter of Cornerstone Community Care.
CCPS organised a consultation event for members with the review team in April 2005.
CCPS submitted written evidence to the Review in July 2005 – click here to view
Members of the review team attended the March 2006 membership meeting.
See also / Changing Lives
More info / Scottish Executive website

Back to alphabetical list Back to reviews

A Vision for the Voluntary Sector – The Next Phase of Our Relationship
What is it? / Document “intended to provoke discussion and debate” about the future relationship between the Scottish Executive and the voluntary sector, published in December 2005.
After publication of the Vision, very little happened to change things for voluntary organisations. Following the May 2007 elections, a parliamentary question asking whether the new administration supported the Vision did not receive a conclusive answer.
Effect on providers / If the ideas suggested are implemented, providers could expect to have
-  a greater role in local planning arrangements
-  an increased role in service delivery
-  more involvement in national policy creation
-  an improved funding relationship with the Scottish Executive and others
CCPS involvement / The CCPS Policy Think Tank considered the Vision in preparing Ready, Willing and Able.
See also / Ready, Willing and Able
More info / Scottish Executive website

Back to alphabetical list Back to reviews

Achieving the Challenge
What is it? / Meeting the Challenge: Achieving a Confident, Competent Workforce was a joint Scottish Executive and European Social Fund project. The project aimed to support 650 Scottish social care workers towards a qualification relevant to their social care employment and their registration with the Scottish Social Services Council.
As European Structural Funds are divided by geographic areas, the project was separated into two sections:
Objective 3: Central Belt and North East Scotland: 450 places
Objective 1: Highlands & Islands: 200 places
The project provided support for individuals who were not already receiving funding towards a Scottish Vocational Qualification in Social Care.
The project is no longer running, due to a lack of funding.
Effect on providers / An opportunity to access funding for SSSC registration qualifications.
CCPS involvement / CCPS was one of the partners in the European Structural Funds (ESF) bid.
CCPS and the Voluntary Sector Social Services Workforce Unit were both represented on the steering group for the Achieving the Challenge project.
See also / sssc
More info

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Action Plan for the Social Services Workforce
What is it? / The Action Plan was launched in 2002 by the (then) Minister for Education, Cathy Jamieson MSP. It set out twelve actions, including the Care in Scotland recruitment campaign, the new honours degree for social work, funding for management development training (now known as Leading to Deliver).
The plan has largely been superseded by the National Workforce Strategy.
Effect on providers / CCPS wrote to the Minister following the launch, highlighting the almost complete absence of reference to the voluntary sector in the document. This was rectified in subsequent initiatives.
CCPS involvement / See above.
See also / National Workforce Strategy
COSLA Recruitment and Retention Task Force
Care in Scotland campaign.
More info / Scottish Executive website

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ADSW: Association of Directors of Social Work
What is it? / The Association of Directors of Social Work is a constituted group of senior Social Workers who work in Scottish local government. They come together to promote social welfare and social inclusion and the interests of those who use their services. They have established internal networks, on which all local authority Social Work Departments are represented, to disseminate research, information and best practice, discuss policy and thereon communicate their views. They also seek to enter into dialogue with partners and provide opportunities for consultation and conference, to discuss joint concerns whilst promoting and exploring the benefits of partnership and integrated working
Effect on providers
CCPS involvement / CCPS works with ADSW on specific issues. CCPS also belongs to the Care in Scotland group, of which ADSW is also a member, which addresses issues of common concern.
See also / Care in Scotland group
More info / www.adsw.org.uk

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Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) Act 2007
What is it? / The Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) Bill was passed on 15 February2007. The Bill's headline effect is that it gives new powers and responsibilities to local agencies to investigate any harm or risk of harm to adults living in care homes or in the community.
This Act covers policy previously referred to as ‘vulnerable adults’ legislation.
The main purpose of the Act is to
·  Set up new multi-agency Adult Protection Committees to oversee adult protection policies locally
·  Place a duty on a range of agencies to investigate suspected abuse
·  Provide new powers to carry out assessments of the person and their circumstances
·  Create a range of options for intervention to address and manage instances of abuse
The Act also extends powers which exist already in the Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000 and the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003.
The Act was passed quickly at the end of the last parliamentary session; much of the detail of the Act will come about through secondary legislation and guidance.
Effect on providers / As present, it is not entirely clear what the effect of the Act on providers will be. The legislation does not impose any additional duties or powers on providers per se, but it is not clear whether those providing services on behalf of local authorities may have information sharing responsibilities similar to those of local authorities. These matters will be addressed in secondary legislation and guidance.
CCPS involvement / CCPS' main involvement with the Bill has been to push for the voluntary sector to be included for consideration as members of the Adult Protection Committees which will be set up under the Bill in each local area. This is to be taken forward through guidance to
accompany the Act, which CCPS will try to influence through its membership of the Implementation Group and the Code of Practice working group set up by the Scottish Executive.
CCPS responded to consultations on the Bill and gave written evidence to the Scottish Parliament Health Committee, which can be read here.
CCPS was represented on the Bill Steering Committee by Linda Headland of Elcap. Reports from the CCPS representative are posted on the members-only section of the CCPS website.
See also / Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act 2007
More info / Copy of the Act
Scottish Executive website
The Scottish Parliament website

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