ALLIANCE briefing for Covid Recovery Strategy debate at Holyrood

The briefing recommends an equality and human rights based approach to recovery, with more recognition and funding for the third sector.

The ALLIANCE has circulated a briefing to MSPs ahead of the Covid Recovery Strategy debate, currently scheduled for Thursday 28 October 2021.

The Scottish Government recently published its ‘Covid Recovery Strategy’ (this link will take you away from our website). The strategy sets out the government’s vision for recovery and the actions it will take to address systemic inequalities made worse by COVID-19, make progress towards a wellbeing economy, and deliver inclusive, person-centred public services.

The direct and indirect impacts of COVID-19 – and responses to it – have been felt significantly by disabled people, people living with long term conditions and unpaid carers. It is essential that our recovery from COVID-19 addresses the inequalities that have been made worse by the pandemic, particularly for marginalised groups.

This briefing sets out key recommendations and considerations for the Scottish Government in implementing the strategy, calling for an equality and human rights based approach, underpinned by progressive economic systems, and recognition for Scotland’s third sector.

• The root causes of inequality should be targeted in plans for NHS remobilisation, recovery and renewal and social care reform, with particular consideration for population groups disproportionately affected by the pandemic.
• The Scottish Government should engage meaningfully with people and organisations across Scotland on the needs, rights and preferences of people who use social care services and embed citizen involvement and co-production in re-design.
• Evaluation and monitoring should be carried out to ensure policies and practices are impacting human rights positively, and robust mechanisms should be in place to ensure accountability and routes to remedy and redress.
• To achieve a fair and equal recovery from COVID-19, greater weight should be given to progressive economic systems like the wellbeing economy, as well as human rights and gender budgeting, and the caring economy.
• The Scottish Government should support and work directly with third and independent health and social care organisations as equal and valued partners. This should be resource by additional, sustainable, ongoing and protected funding, with longer term contracts and a flexible approach taken by funders and commissioners, to ensure that essential services continue to reach people and keep staff in secure employment.

The recovery strategy also refers to the establishment of a National Care Service (NCS). It is important that positive change in the social care sector happens at pace. Our briefing outlines key actions, which we believe are crucial to the creation of a new NCS:

• Implement the Feeley Review recommendations as a priority.
• Co-produce social care reform with people who access social care, unpaid carers, and third and independent sector organisations.
• Embed equality and human rights in all elements of a new social care system.
• Ensure increased and adequate investment in social care, using a human rights based approach to budgeting.
• Remove non-residential care charges.
• Remove the implementation gap between Self-directed Support policy and people’s experiences.
• Ensure greater recognition and support for unpaid carers.
• Rapid delivery of the Fair Work Convention recommendations on social care.
• Implement flexible and innovative approaches to commissioning, focused on equality, rights, and personal outcomes.

You can read our full briefing via the link below.

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