Hello and welcome to our Involve newsletter
It's been over a year since our last edition, and we have a wealth of exciting news to share with you. From the incredible work our volunteers have been doing to how you can join our new cohort of volunteers, there's plenty to catch up on!
In this issue, we highlight the fantastic efforts of our Equally Safe At Work Group to tackle gender inequality in the workplace. Their goal is to make the Care Inspectorate an even fairer and better place for everyone.
We are thrilled to showcase some of the inspiring stories from our volunteers who have made a significant impact to people experiencing care. Their dedication and passion are truly commendable, and we hope their stories inspire you to get involved as well.
We have some exciting updates on our upcoming events too. Lastly, we want to express our heartfelt gratitude to all our volunteers and partners. Your support has been instrumental in helping us achieve our goals and make a positive difference.
We hope you enjoy this newsletter and continue to stay updated on the amazing work we're involved in.
Equally Safe at Work – a step forward in gender equality
Our volunteers are a vital part of our organisation and in our corporate plan we are committed to provide supportive working environments for all. We want to share some exciting news that reinforces our commitment to gender equality and how it will impact our work, particularly in our role as a regulator of social care.
Recently, we have made a significant commitment to the Equally Safe at Work programme. This national initiative in Scotland aims to prevent and address workplace gender inequality, ultimately contributing to a fairer and more inclusive society. This commitment isn't just a symbolic gesture; it's a pledge to actively work towards tangible changes within our own organisation and to promote these changes within the wider social care sector.
Why is this important? Gender inequality persists in many workplaces, including the social care sector. This can manifest in various ways, from pay gaps and occupational segregation to discriminatory attitudes and behaviours, including gender-based violence. As a regulator, we have a responsibility to not only make sure that the services we oversee are providing safe and equitable care, but also that the workplaces within those services are fair and inclusive for all. By committing to Equally Safe at Work, we are strengthening our ability to lead by example.
What does this mean in practice? Our commitment to Equally Safe at Work translates into these concrete actions.
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Review and update our policies: We will scrutinise our existing policies, for instance, lone working and equal pay, to make sure they promote gender equality and are free from bias.
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Provide training and raise awareness: We will equip our staff, including volunteers, with the knowledge and skills to recognise and challenge gender inequality in all its forms. This will include training on unconscious bias, gender-based violence, and inclusive leadership.
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Monitor and evaluate our progress: We will regularly track our progress against specific targets using data to inform our future actions. This transparency will ensure accountability and continuous improvement.
Our role as a regulator: As a regulator of social care, we believe we have a crucial role to play to promote gender equality across the sector. By actively participating in Equally Safe at Work, we are demonstrating our commitment and building our expertise. This will allow us to:
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Encourage and support social care providers: We will collaborate with providers, offering guidance and resources to help them create more equitable workplaces.
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Share best practices and learning: We will actively share our experiences and learning with other organisations and regulators, contributing to a wider effort to tackle gender inequality.
We believe that by working together, we can create a workplace and a social care sector that is truly equal and inclusive for everyone. Our commitment to Equally Safe at Work is a significant step in this direction, and we are excited to have you on this journey with us.
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Our Paisley office is closing
The Care Inspectorate Paisley office, based at Renfrewshire House, closed on 21 March and we have moved to a new location in Atlantic Quay, Glasgow. This is a Scottish Government building in the city centre. For our volunteers who usually attend meetings in the Paisley office, we plan to hold future meetings in Atlantic Quay.
Developing our strategic inspection (adult) tools with the help of our volunteers
Two of our volunteers, Janet Smith and Imelda Molloy, recently had the opportunity to work alongside our inspectors and inspectors from Healthcare Improvement Scotland to review and update documents that are used in strategic inspections of adult services.
The first project was to review the leaflets sent out to people and organisations both in preparing for, and during the engagement phase of an inspection. The volunteers brought their own lived experience of having a relative who is being cared for and were keen that the leaflet would be accessible to people who experience care. It was important that the language was free from jargon, able to be understood by non-professionals, would reassure people about being involved and would encourage them to participate. It was an interesting piece of work and the outcome seems to meet the brief. Janet and Imelda both commented that "people who use services will tell us if that is the case!"
The second project was to develop a visual tool for engagement conversations and focus groups. This was to make it easier for people who experience care to contribute to a strategic inspection and increase participation from a wider range of people who experience care and carers, including seldom heard groups. The vision was that the tool would identify the various aspects of the health and social care pathway with prompts to encourage conversations and meaningful input from those involved in delivering and using services. It was intended to be a colourful, simplified tool with minimal text that would encourage people to engage in a relaxed and informal way.
The work was led by a graphic artist who spent the morning listening to the participants describing the process and the areas in which feedback is sought. Having decided on a framework that would be used, the artist began to work on drawings, single word text and prompts to guide conservations. The finished article which has been produced in various sizes to suit individual and group sessions will be used by inspectors at future strategic inspections.
Janet and Imelda both said: "It was fascinating being involved in both these pieces of work and we are looking forward to using them in practice”.
Pride 2025 - how you could be involved in your role as a volunteer
Dundee Pride on the 15 June is just around the corner, and what better way to show your support for the LGBT+ community than by joining the celebration? We will carry our bright banner through the streets of Dundee, highlighting our commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion. Whether you are part of the community, an ally, or simply looking for a vibrant and inclusive event, Dundee Pride welcomes everyone.
Come along and experience a day filled with colour, music, and a powerful sense of unity. It's a chance to connect with others, celebrate diversity, and stand together for equality. So, mark your calendars, gather your friends and family, and get ready to be part of something truly special. We can't wait to see you there!
If you want to join the Care Inspectorate supporters, let us know by speaking with your coordinator or email us at get.involved@careinspectorate.gov.scot
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New beginnings
One of our dedicated and longstanding volunteers has decided to step down from her role. We would like to thank Julia for her incredible commitment, hard work, and for sharing her experiences, which have empowered others to find their voice. She generously shared her journey with us, and we are deeply appreciative of her contributions.
“On 22nd March 2017 I found myself at Compass House in Dundee having been fortunate enough to be invited for an interview for the role of inspection volunteer. This role was open to those of us with lived experience of care services perhaps as family carer or cared for person. This was certainly true for me as I had been responsible for the care of three elderly family members!
“After this interview there followed a new and very interesting seven years. I supported inspectors with their care home inspections, took part in the recruitment process at various levels of engagement, presented an overview of the role of a Care Inspectorate volunteer to a visiting Dutch delegation, supported inspections with phone calls to families from all over Scotland during Covid-19 and attended mandatory intense two day training before starting as volunteer. Attending volunteer meetings was interesting. There we got to meet volunteers from other areas and share experiences. We learned so much about innovations that were being introduced.
“I’m probably just a bit old fashioned but it never seemed quite the same when we moved on to meeting via Microsoft Teams! Technology has never been my strong point but there was help at hand from our coordinators.
“However, it is now time for me to begin a new chapter of life. After recovering well from a surgery, I began to reevaluate life. So, I have decided to withdraw from volunteering with the Care Inspectorate and stay closer to home especially in winter.
“I do miss visiting care homes, the interesting chats with residents and my old inspection colleagues but I have lots of memories to enjoy. My most recent exciting news is that my husband and I have become grandparents for the first time! As you can probably imagine we are besotted and love spending time with our grandson. He is still very small but so fascinating to watch and be with. Thank you, Care Inspectorate, for providing a great chapter.”
Julia Bull, Volunteer
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Could you be a Care Inspectorate volunteer?
Do you have a friend or family member or personal experience of using a care service? We're looking for enthusiastic volunteers to speak to people experiencing care during inspections. We believe that your personal unique experience, can encourage and support people to share their experiences of care.
Your involvement is a great way to shape and improve care in Scotland. Interested? Contact us at get.involved@careinspectorate.gov.scot, visit our website to find out more or hear about Linda’s experiences of being a volunteer.
Young inspection volunteers
We are looking for young people with personal experience of care to volunteer with us. If you know of anyone who would like to apply, please encourage them to visit the Volunteering page of our website where you’ll find more information and our application form. Applicants don’t have to have qualifications and must be aged between 18-27 to apply. If you need any more information, please email get.involved@careinspectorate.gov.scot
If you would like to find out more about becoming a young inspection volunteer, need help to complete the application form or would like us to post you an application form, please email Julie Brown at get.involved@careinspectorate.gov.scot
A huge thank you!
We want to extend our thanks to everyone who provided feedback on our draft equality outcomes 2025-2029, as well as those who shared, liked, and engaged with our posts to help spread the word. Your input, through surveys and conversation cafés has been invaluable in refining our outcomes.
We are delighted to share that these updated outcomes have now been approved by our Board. They will be published alongside our Equalities Mainstreaming Report no later than 30 April 2025, so watch this space. We will share this on our website and social media channels.
Your support and involvement make a real difference.
You can read our more information about our commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion, including our past reports on our website.
Thank you. Amanda, Clare and Jacqui.
Care home quality improvement programme launches
The Care Inspectorate, with support from the Scottish Social Services Council, has launched a new national quality improvement programme for adult care homes in Scotland. Our participation and equalities team manager and equalities professional advisor supported the programme at all stages. The programme, delivered on a cohort basis, aims to support continuous improvement in care. The first cohort, which began in April 2024, is working with care homes within the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and NHS Forth Valley health board areas.
You can read the programme’s first flash report from cohort one on The Hub.
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