Joint Statement on the National Care Service
- Area of Work: The ALLIANCE
- Type: News Item
- Published: 15th March 2022

145 people and organisations signed a joint call for lived experience and the third sector to be at the forefront of the proposed NCS.
A Joint Statement on the National Care Service, and the need to put people at the centre of social care reform, has been delivered to Ministers.
Drawn from proposals from organisations working across health and social care, people who access social care, and unpaid carers, the Joint Statement calls on the Scottish Parliament and Scottish Government to ensure that the voices of lived experience and the third and independent sectors are at the forefront of the proposed National Care Service for Scotland.
It is essential that the expertise of people with lived experience of accessing – or trying to access – social care, and the third and independent sectors are a key part of design, planning, evaluation, and implementation of any proposed service.
The full Joint Statement and a list of the 145 signatories is available here.
Joint Statement: put people at the centre of social care reform
As organisations and individuals connected to health and social care across Scotland, we call on the Scottish Government and Scottish Parliament to ensure that disabled people, people living with long term conditions, and unpaid carers are at the centre of the National Care Service, and to value and involve the expertise of the third and independent sectors.
We are united in our desire to see meaningful progress in social care. We have an opportunity to embed equality, human rights, and co-production in the proposed National Care Service. It is essential that people with lived experience of accessing – or trying to access – social care and the third and independent sectors are heard, in order to achieve transformational and positive change that works for everyone.
Without prioritising the voices of lived experience and valuing the third and independent sectors, the National Care Service cannot meet the requirements of disabled people, people living with long term conditions, and unpaid carers.
We cannot miss this opportunity.
We call on the Scottish Government to ensure that the National Care Service:
- Embeds co-production throughout the design, development, and delivery of the National Care Service, with resources and funding provided to enable co-production.
- Supports and works directly with third and independent health and social care organisations as equal and valued partners.
- Explicitly integrates equality and human rights across all parts of the social care system.
- Empowers rights holders (people who access social care, unpaid carers, social care workers) to know, understand and claim their rights.
- Revises current commissioning and procurement processes, to better support people accessing and providing social care and support.
- Implements the recommendations of the Independent Review of Adult Social Care, with a particular focus on addressing the implementation gap between policy and practice with Self-directed Support.
- Ensures that the voices of children, young people and their families are prioritised, and tailored support services are appropriately supported and funded.
End of document.
End of page.
You may also like:
Healthcare Improvement Scotland want to hear from the voice of lived experience.
Continue readingThe Scottish AI Alliance is hosting the People’s AI Panel on Saturday 16 August 2025 in Glasgow.
Continue readingFunding & support available. Apply now for the 2026 GSK IMPACT Awards or Community Health Programme to boost your charity’s impact.
Continue readingAn independent analysis of over 100 responses to the Scottish Government consultation has been published.
Continue readingFind out more about how to get involved with SWAP (Scottish Wider Access Programmes)
Continue readingThe strategy aims to ensure that every young disabled person feels supported in the transition into adulthood.
Continue readingThe ALLIANCE responds to a Scottish Government consultation on draft guidance for teachers
Continue readingThe new Leadership Success Profile is here; tools and support for leaders across Scotland’s care, health, and voluntary sectors.
Continue readingThe respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine is being offered to people turning 75 and pregnant women.
Continue readingFind out more about Peace of Mind, a programme which supports disabled people at risk of social exclusion to re-engage with their community.
Continue readingThe paper sets out the Government's thoughts on the proposed Human Rights Bill.
Continue readingEvery Tuesday the Discover Digital team at the ALLIANCE shares a free and trusted digital tool that supports health and wellbeing.
Continue readingThe Poverty Alliance need your support in demanding change and marching alongside them in Edinburgh on 25 October.
Continue readingScottish Recovery Network are excited to launch a new programme of free Peer Connects learning events and webinars.
Continue readingProposals to cut disability payments and a lack of consideration for devolution are amongst the serious issues in the plans.
Continue readingThe Scottish Government has recognised a formal definition of Deafblindness.
Continue readingInclusion Scotland are recruiting adults with lived experience of social care support
Continue readingQualifications Scotland must think about the needs of pupils who use British Sign Language.
Continue readingThe Health, Social Care and Sport Committee is seeking views from both organisations and people with lived experience.
Continue readingTelecare users across the UK are encouraged to contact their network providers ahead of the digital switchover.
Continue readingMore than 100 charities unite to say Scottish MPs must stand against social security cuts.
Continue readingALLIANCE survey finds people are facing multiple barriers accessing SDS
Continue readingThe plan is intended to improve the lives of disabled people and put their experiences and concerns at the heart of policymaking.
Continue readingWomen's rights, health and human rights groups call for rejection of new police guidance on investigating pregnancy loss.
Continue readingA new community-led care initiative is launching in rural Perthshire and is looking for an inspiring leader to drive it forward.
Continue reading