The ALLIANCE proposes a rights based approach to the reform of adult social care in Scotland.

“Where, after all, do universal human rights begin? In small places, close to home – so close and so small that they cannot be seen on any maps of the world. Yet they are the world of the individual person; the neighborhood he lives in; the school or college he attends; the factory, farm, or office where he works. Such are the places where every man, woman, and child seeks equal justice, equal opportunity, equal dignity without discrimination. Unless these rights have meaning there, they have little meaning anywhere. Without concerted citizen action to uphold them close to home, we shall look in vain for progress in the larger world.” Eleanor Roosevelt

 

It’s hard to escape the doom and gloom surrounding the current state of health and social care. Every day the media seems to carry a fresh story about NHS funding crises, the impending threat of Brexit, and repeated obstacles encountered by those trying to access – and deliver – services.

Several initiatives have been created in Scotland aimed at finding solutions to these problems. We have a raft of laws and policies to guide us, a growing body of evidence about what works (and doesn’t), and a strong and capable cadre of people and organisations beavering away in different places and sectors.  However, while there are some examples of good practice and small scale improvements to existing models of care, the transformational change that is so desperately needed still hasn’t quite happened.

The Scottish Government and COSLA (Confederation of Scottish Local Authorities) recently circulated a discussion paper, in which central and local government have come together to propose a national leadership programme to support adult social care reform.  As the ALLIANCE’s response indicates, we believe that radical and profound change for the better can be achieved if we embed a strong equalities and human rights based framework within the system.

Human rights provides a common language and unifying philosophy with which to address key issues and opportunities across the current system in a joined up and cross-sectoral way.  A rights based approach can be embedded at all stages – policy development, service design, delivery, and assessment – and helps put the ‘human’ back into our systems and processes. Because rights are universal, they belong to everyone; this means we can focus on the workforce AND people who access services.

There’s also a strong business case for taking a rights based approach, particularly for highly politicised issues like social care. It can help overcome concerns about fairness and transparency, support difficult decision making and help balance competing interests and risks.

The inspirational words above, by former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, serve to remind us that human rights are not just lofty ambitions or confined to the world of courts and lawyers. They are about the “small places, close to home”‘. And where better to realise our rights than within support and services, to ensure they put us at the centre, help us exercise choice and control, and live as equal, active and independent citizens?


End of page.

You may also like:

Written by: Heidi Tweedie, Social Movement & Enterprise Lead, Moray Wellbeing Hub CIC and Dr Patty Lozano-Casal, Programme Manager (Settings), See Me and Jane Miller, Programme Manager, Health and Social Care Academy, the ALLIANCE Published: 28/11/2024

Heidi Tweedie, Jane Miller and Dr Patty Lozano-Casal reflect on the need to end mental health stigma and discrimination in healthcare.

Continue reading
Written by: Hilda Campbell, CEO, COPE Scotland Published: 14/11/2024

Hilda Campbell shares COPE Scotland's thoughts and ideas for keeping well and improving your wellbeing during the winter months.

Continue reading
Written by: Mark Macleod, Fuel Poverty Partnerships Manager, Energy Action Scotland Published: 16/10/2024

Fuel poverty isn’t just an energy issue – it’s a public health issue that demands urgent attention.

Continue reading
Written by: Sue Ricketts, Executive Information and Development Manager, Nystagmus Network Published: 28/08/2024

Read about the Nystagmus Network's BBC Radio 4 charity appeal on 11 August and how this has raised awareness of the eye condition.

Continue reading
Back to all opinions