National Care Service appoints interim Advisory Board

The Scottish Government has set up a new group to help plan the National Care Service.

The Scottish Government has confirmed the appointment of an interim Advisory Board to support the development of the National Care Service (NCS). In a letter from Maree Todd MSP, Minister for Social Care, Mental Wellbeing and Sport, the Board’s membership, remit, and next steps have been outlined.

The first meeting of the interim Advisory Board will take place on 21 May 2025, marking a significant milestone in the progress of Scotland’s National Care Service and wider social care reform.

Chaired by Susan Douglas-Scott CBE, the interim Board brings together a diverse group of members including people with lived experience of accessing care services, unpaid carers, frontline workers, care providers, NHS representatives and local government. This broad representation ensures that a range of experiences and perspectives from across social work, social care and community health will shape the future direction of the service.

The full list of interim members is available on the Scottish Government website:
National Care Service: Interim Advisory Board – gov.scot

What happens next?

The interim Board will run for 6 to 9 months while a recruitment process is developed for the substantive Advisory Board, including an independent Chair and individual members. The Scottish Government has confirmed that this process will:

• Draw on findings from previous co-design work;
• Include opportunities for both nominated and self-nominated members;
• Be shaped by public appointments processes and shared widely to encourage applications from a range of voices.

The ALLIANCE welcomes this step and supports the continued focus on co-design and inclusive engagement in building the National Care Service. As outlined in the Minister’s letter, people with lived and living experience will continue to be central to shaping the service’s development.

Share your views

As the Advisory Board becomes established, the Scottish Government is seeking input from stakeholders and organisations, including ALLIANCE members, on how best to work together during this next phase. An informal meeting will be arranged to discuss feedback and provide an update following the first Board meeting.

You can read more about the National Care Service and the wider programme of reform here:
National Care Service: factsheet – gov.scot

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