Our National Involvement Group met with Rachel McGruer, Deputy Director of Adult Social Care; Local Improvement and Transformation, to share what they think the National Care Service should look like.
The group raised the following questions and thoughts:
- How can the Scottish Government improve the involvement of both people supported by registered support providers and the providers themselves in the National Care Service developments?
- How can the Involvement Group share with the NCS their experiences of what works well and how they think we can help people see social care support as a good job that is secure, well paid and well-supported?
- How is the National Care Service team at the Scottish Government working with others to ensure our communities are good places to live and that everyone, including our staff, feels supported, welcome and secure in their towns, cities and villages across Scotland?
- How do we find ways for organisations like Carr Gomm to work with the NCS to help improve access to quality support? They would like to think of kinder ways to work out support than the way Councils do now. It is called the ‘eligibility criteria’, and it means some people don’t get the support they need.
Ideas were also shared by the group, including establishing an extended feedback system for people to share their ideas and concerns so that feedback is captured outside the formal consultation process.
The group is excited to continue these conversations with the government so that they can ensure everyone has equal access to excellent social care.
The meeting highlighted that people who access social care support are experts in what social care should look like. Therefore, they should be better represented in the development of any social care reform.
Carr Gomm’s National Involvement Group is a network of people supported by Carr Gomm, who contribute to the strategic direction of the organisation and who influence change affecting the social care sector. They are part of Carr Gomm’s commitment to amplify the voices of people who we support; so they can influence good change in Carr Gomm and in social care across Scotland. They have contributed to Carr Gomm’s Strategic Plan, the Independent Review of Adult Social Care and, lately, discussions and consultations on the National Care Service.
To find out more about how Carr Gomm is getting involved in the National Care Service, go to our ‘Influencing Change’ page.
