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Agreement on National Care Service accountability reached

  • Area of Work: The ALLIANCE
  • Type: News Item
  • Published: 13th July 2023
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The initial agreement will see accountability for care shared between the Scottish Government, NHS and local government.

The Scottish Government have written to the Scottish Parliament’s Health, Social Care and Sport Committee, providing an update on the National Care Service Bill. In her letter, Minister for Social Care, Mental Wellbeing and Sport Maree Todd MSP stated that an initial consensus proposal had been agreed between the Scottish Government and COSLA (the umbrella body representing councils in Scotland) on accountability within the National Care Service (NCS). According to the agreement, accountability for care will be shared between the Scottish Government, NHS and local government, with local government retaining existing functions, staff and assets.

The letter further outlined the current status of work to investigate the inclusion of children’s and justice social work services within the scope of the NCS. Research on the inclusion of children’s services is due to be published at the end of October, whilst workshops to consider delivery options for justice social work services will be held at some point in the autumn.

Current improvement work was also highlighted, including funding for additional interim beds to support hospital discharge, reviews of discharge plans in all NHS and HSCP areas, and developing a winter plan earlier than in previous years.

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