 What we've been up to
- Discussed ideas for sharing policy information with staff ahead of the new parliamentary term in September
- Watched the PM's speech on his plans for adult social care
- Finalised changes for sharing consultation responses on our corporate website
Alcohol and Drugs
Care homes/Care at Home
New practice note for people leaving care homes undetected and unmonitored
Due to an increasing number of notifications about people living in care homes having left the building undetected and unbeknown to staff, we have produced a new practice note to help prevent people leaving care homes undetected and unmonitored to help manage risk and support health and safety. The practice note covers outside space in care homes, staffing, handovers, technology, the use of door codes, and good practice expectations.
Medication support for care at home services
We are pleased to issue guidance in relation to managing medications in a care at home setting. The quality illustration in our A quality framework for support services (care at home, including supported living models of support) states, ‘people have as much control as possible over their medication and benefit from a robust medication management system that adheres to good practice guidance’. To support providers in demonstrating this we have developed a statement to clearly set out the expectations for how people should be supported with their medications. We will be producing a practice note to support providers which will be shared in due course.
End of Life/Palliative Care
Palliative care and care around dying MyLearning badge
The Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) has launched a Palliative care and care around dying MyLearning badge to support Scotland's social service workforce. The badge aims to assist workers in developing their understanding of palliative care, care around dying and the important part they play in supporting people, families and carers, as well as increasing awareness of the national palliative care strategy.
Infection Prevention and Control
Infection Prevention and Control Strategy for Scotland
The Scottish Government has published its first national Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Strategy for Scotland setting out a 10-year vision to reduce preventable infections across health and social care settings. The Strategy recognises that IPC needs to be person-led and rights-based, noting that "in social care, especially care homes, IPC must also respect residents’ autonomy, relationships, and quality of life, balancing protection with human rights and individual needs." The Strategy will apply to all settings where health and social is provided and covers social care providers registered with the Care Inspectorate and unpaid carers. It includes eight priority statements setting out the main areas of focus for IPC across health and social care and a draft theory of change which outlines the expected short/medium term outcomes and long-term outcomes.
Mental Health
The Royal College of Psychiatrists in Scotland has published a report highlighting "serious concerns" about the impact of health and social care integration on mental health services, calling for an inquiry in the new parliamentary session. The Royal College said the complex and "fragmented" arrangements of integration have undermined delivery of mental health care across Scotland
Workforce
Other Health and Social Care
The Care Inspectorate has launched a short survey on its digital social care self-evaluation toolkit. We are looking to understand what has happened since the toolkit was launched last year, including how it has been used and how helpful it has been.
The Care Inspectorate Statistical Summary Report for Quarter 1 of 2026/27 has been released. The document presents data on the number of registered care services, new registrations and cancellations, complaints about care services, enforcements and quality theme grades, all by care service type and or service sector.
The Big Conversation on Care launches (England)
Baroness Casey of Blackstock has launched The Big Conversation on Care, aiming to give one million people across England the opportunity to say what they want and expect from a future National Care Service, including on the tough questions on who it should support, what families should reasonably be expected to do, and how the country should pay for care in a fair and sustainable way. The conversation is starting by asking people: when we are old or disabled, or have a serious illness, who should support us and how?
Report on UK Government's delivery on adult social care (England)
Care England has published 'Two Years of Promises', a scorecard grading the government’s delivery against every commitment in Labour’s 2024 manifesto that bears on adult social care, from the National Care Service and the Fair Pay Agreement to immigration, employment rights and hospital discharge. The overall grade is a C minus, or “requires improvement."
Report on how care inequities shape social care experiences (England)
The Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) has commissioned and published a qualitative study of how people drawing on care and support, and unpaid carers, experience inequities in social care in England. The study reportedly shows that participants identified six priorities for a more equitable care system:
- a named point of contact to help people navigate services
- greater continuity and consistency of carers
- clearer and more proactive information about support and entitlements
- more consistent provision across different areas
- better pay, training and support for the workforce
- greater use of trusted community organisations and culturally appropriate services
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