Members update from ALLIANCE Chief Officer

Dear members, 

Manifesto engagement 

We have welcomed the recent engagement of many members as we have been developing the ALLIANCE manifesto for next year’s election. Our policy team will be working over the coming months to review the suggestions we have received against a list of criteria which we apply when developing a manifesto.   

National Care Service and Social Care Reform 

The ALLIANCE has written to the new Minister for Social Care and Mental Wellbeing, Tom Arthur, to highlight the priorities for social care reform which we have consistently been pushing for.  

The interim advisory board for the National Care Service has now met twice. Our ALLIANCE Chair, Jim Hume, sits on the board representing Change Mental Health along with an individual who is also part of the ALLIANCE coordinated lived experience network for people who sit on Integrated Joint Boards.  

The National Care Service Advisory Board is being set up to provide advice to Scottish Ministers, council leaders, integration authorities and Health Boards on what actions could be taken to improve delivery of social care support services, social work services and community health services in Scotland. 

The interim Advisory Board has been set up so that this work can begin as soon as possible.  

A recruitment process will be carried out to appoint the independent Chair and individual members of the final Advisory Board and we will be seeking clarity on whether any ALLIANCE members will be represented.  If you have any information on this, you would like to share then please get in touch at policy@alliance-scotland.org.uk  

This comes at the same time as we published a briefing informed by you, our members, about current experiences of accessing Self-directed Support amidst the ongoing financial constraints. The briefing describes the challenges people continue to face when accessing Self-directed Support.  We have shared the briefing with COSLA and Scottish Government and continue to call for better investment into social care.  

Long Term Conditions Strategy  

I attended one of our member engagement events on the long term conditions strategy which took place ahead of the consultation closing on 20 July.  Thank you to all our members who have taken the time to share your insights and experience with us.  

Discussion highlighted the importance of embedding of a holistic approach. People still face too many difficulties trying to find their way through the system because it is not joined up.  At the same time, more people are living with multiple long term conditions and this needs to be better planned for.   

A strong focus of the discussion was on health inequalities and the importance of tackling issues of stigma and the barriers which people face trying to access health and social care.   

Yet a concern raised by a lot of members was that another strategy would only add to the complex policy and public service context.  

We will be finalising our consultation response, as informed by your insights, and will be touch to share our final response.  

Health and social care reform 

I was invited to the First Minister’s speech last month where he set out the plans outlined in the Population Health Framework, Health and Social Care Service Renewal Framework and Public Service Reform Strategy.  

All three frameworks emphasise prevention as a core organising principle and each indicates an elevated role for Scotland’s third sector, which is to be welcomed. They identify that the third sector reaches people that statutory services often miss, builds trust, delivers effective preventative support and helps shape services around people’s lives.   

What is not yet clear, is how we will be involved in the planning and implementation of these. I have written to the Cabinet Secretary to ask for further information. We will also be meeting with the Deputy Chief Operating Officer of NHS Scotland and the Director of Population Health over the coming weeks.  

Finally,  

It was a pleasure to attend Thistle’s big conversation last month and also to chair the ALLIANCE’s Integration in Action event on courageous leadership where it was lovely to see so many members.   

In sharing this roundup, we want to ensure our members stay informed about our work and opportunities to engage with Scottish Government policy and practice. If you would like any further information or to share your views on any of the issues discussed, please contact the membership team at membership@alliance-scotland.org.uk.