Health and Social Care – Page 13 – The NEN

Twenty-year journey for the social service workforce

Social service workers and the key role they have played in supporting some of Scotland’s most vulnerable citizens during COVID-19 have quite rightly been recognised as a vital part of the health and social care system.

Their prominence and recognition come at the same time as a significant milestone is reached in the regulation of social service workers, marking a 20-year journey towards a trusted, qualified and safe workforce.

Lorraine Gray, SSSC Chief Executive said: ‘The COVID-19 pandemic has brought the social care, social work and early years workforce into the public eye and shown that they are a professional, qualified and skilled workforce with parity alongside other similar roles, such as health.

‘The aspiration of the original legislation passed almost 20 years ago to protect people who use social services is coming to fruition with people in social care and early years joining social work to create a fully qualified, accountable workforce.

‘The stories we’ve heard from the sector about how they’ve coped in the most challenging circumstances are just awe inspiring and it’s these individuals who have helped services to continue delivering high quality care to the people who need it most.

‘What comes through most of all are the values and compassion of workers, many of whom could never imagine doing anything else, such is their commitment and dedication.

‘The Scottish Government’s independent review of adult social care is an opportunity to acknowledge those workers, giving them not only the recognition they deserve for the life changing work they do but also the opportunity to change the way society values their role.

‘Adult social care alone contributes more than £13bn each year to the Scottish economy, which is more than agriculture, forestry and fishing, so the economic importance of social services shouldn’t be overlooked either.’

Regulation of Care

The Regulation of Care (Scotland) Act 2001 set a vision for a registered, qualified and professional social service workforce with Codes of Practice setting the behaviours and values every worker must work to.

It meant social service workers in a wide range of roles; from social workers to day care of children workers and care home workers to residential childcare workers; have to register with the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC).

SSSC registration requires workers to hold, or be working towards, a relevant qualification for their role and work to the SSSC Codes of Practice.

A trusted, skilled and confident workforce

One in 13 people employed in Scotland work in social services.
The adult social care sector contributes £13.4bn a year to the economy.
The last group of workers the SSSC Register opened to was support workers in care at home and housing support in October 2017. Some 61,920 of them were registered by the deadline of 30 September 2020.
There are 166,282 people on the SSSC Register working in a range of roles.
This represents 80% of the total social service workforce in Scotland, as not all roles require to register, for example directly employed personal assistants.

Social care recruitment event to be held in Edinburgh

Leading Scottish care provider LOVE Care is organising an event in Edinburgh to boost recruitment into the care sector amid the economic and unemployment turmoil presented by Covid-19.

Taking place on Friday 2^nd and Saturday 3^rd of October at LOVE Gorgie Farm, the organisation seeks to attract a wide range of candidates, from those new to the sector to senior and experienced care workers, as well as social care students.

Based in Hamilton but active across Scotland, LOVE Care, part of social business the LOVE Group, offers a wide range of professional care services, tailored to individual service user needs and undertaken by highly trained carers.

Interested candidates can sign up to the event online that will take place at Edinburgh’s famous urban farm, which was acquired by the charitable arm of the LOVE Group earlier this year. The farm serves as the local base for the social business to run its professional training programmes in the social care and education fields.

Attendees will meet with senior staff, learn about the available positions and the selection process. Once hired, they will receive ongoing mentoring, training and development opportunities to provide them with an exciting and rewarding career path, with positions across Edinburgh and the Lothians.

In addition to Real Living Wage pay and fully funded qualifications, salaries are reviewed yearly, reaching up to £12 per hour after two years of employment. Those with previous experience can apply for more senior positions and higher salaries.

Although the main theme of this event is recruitment, LOVE Care is also inviting experienced workers to share their experiences in the sector and their opinions on how the sector should improve. Their testimonies will be the base to shape ongoing discussions between the organisation and the Scottish Government on how the care sector should be transformed.

Lynn Bell, CEO of LOVE Care said: “This recruitment event comes against one of the greatest public health challenges in recent history combined with the economic uncertainty presented by the pandemic.

“We are looking for people with different levels of experience that are passionate and truly committed to improving other people’s lives. In return, we offer rewarding job opportunities, with one of the most competitive salary schemes in Scotland and support career progression through ongoing training and development to ensure career progression to managerial roles.

“Covid-19 has highlighted something we have always been vocal about and that is the essential role that social care workers play in taking care of the most vulnerable members of our society, and as such they deserve more gratitude and better working conditions.

“The event will have a dedicated area for attendees to share views on how the care sector should be transformed and help shape ongoing discussions with the Scottish Government on what needs to be done in this respect.

To comply with Covid-19 health measures and guarantee the safety of staff and visitors, interested attendees should sign up and select a timeslot prior to attending the event at www.lovecare.scot

National Care Service? Review of adult social care

Expert panel will report by January 2021

An independent review is to consider the idea of a national care service.

The review, a Programme for Government commitment, will aim to ensure Scotland provides consistently excellent support for people who use these services, as well as their carers and their families.

It will be chaired by Derek Feeley, former director general of Health and Social Care in the Scottish Government, and will report by January 2021.

Adult social care comprises a wide array of services and non-clinical support in a range of settings, involving care homes, care at home, day services, and community support for people with a range of needs.

Social care supports more than 200,000 people across Scotland – those with disabilities, older people, people with mental health problems and those with drug and alcohol problems.

The review will take into account the experiences of those supported by, and who work, in social care, as well as looking at funding, governance, administration and delivery.

The review will consider the needs, rights and preferences of people who use services, their families, and their carers.

Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said: “This will be a wide ranging review of all aspects of a service which supports and involves so many people across Scotland. I am looking forward to recommendations that help ensure high standards of service and support into the future.

“This independent review will examine how adult social care can be most effectively reformed to deliver a national approach to care and support services – and this will include consideration of a national care service.

“It will also build upon our existing commitments to improving provision – long standing issues in adult social care have been thrown into sharp relief during the pandemic, and they demand our attention.

“We owe it to those who use and work in adult social care services to acknowledge these challenges, to learn from them, and to consider carefully how we can most effective plan for the future.”

The chair of the review Derek Feeley, a former director general of Health and Social Care in the Scottish Government, is also a former Chief Executive of NHS Scotland and former Chief Executive and President of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement.

Derek Feeley said: “I am grateful to the Health Secretary for the invitation to chair this independent review and to the advisory panel for agreeing to bring their considerable expertise to our work to recommend improvements to adult social care in Scotland.

“I look forward to views of everyone involved in our social care system and, in particular, to hearing from service users about what it will take for us to better meet their needs, rights and preferences.

“We have a broad remit that touches on every part of the social care landscape; from the experience of those using and working in the system to how it should be funded and regulated. We will look at every option and opportunity to bring about the improvements that I know everyone working in the system aspires to achieve.”

The panel of experts for the review includes: Malcolm Chisholm, former Scottish Minister for Health and Community Care, Anna Dixon, chief executive of the Centre for Better Ageing, Caroline Gardner, Auditor General 2012-2020, Councillor Stuart Currie, Ian Welsh, chief executive of the Health and Social Care Alliance and Göran Henriks, Chief Executive of Learning and Innovation in Jönköping, Sweden.

The possible remit and structure of a potential national care service has not yet been set out. It could cover a range of organisational, funding and delivery options, which will be for the independent review to consider.

The review will also consider previous and ongoing work, including:

the programme for social care reform currently being taken forward by the Scottish Government and COSLA
progress with integration of health and social care in Scotland, including the outcomes of the recent review undertaken by the Scottish Government and COSLA
work undertaken by the Care Inspectorate to consider opportunities for improving adult social care provision
work undertaken by wider partners including the third sector to understand people’s experience of care and support improvement
scrutiny by Audit Scotland of social care and progress with integrating health and social care
scrutiny by the Health and Sport Committee of the Scottish Parliament of reform of social care to date and progress with integrating health and social care

‘Forgotten Angels’ – Why We Must Act Now to Prevent A Collapse of Social Care

With coronavirus continuing to have an impact across the country, one woman speaks out about the desperate need to support a social care system on the brink of collapse …

Diana McGovern, who lives in Davidsons Mains, suffers from MS and is confined to a wheelchair. She relies on her carers to complete the simple day to day tasks we all take for granted. Without ‘her angels’ as she calls them, it would be impossible for her to remain in her own home.

She is deeply concerned about the crisis facing the social care system in this country and believes any further pressure on it, such as a second wave of COVID19, would lead to its collapse.

“Protect the NHS is their claim but who is protecting the carers?” asks Diana. “An army of unsung heroes dedicated to looking after patients in their own homes with compassionate dignity and respect, preventing bed blocking in hospitals, allowing doctors and nurses to continue the vital work of saving lives.

“They work seamlessly as a team, but could the NHS function without carers? Nurses study diligently to become qualified and proudly wear their badge of office but carers also wear badges!

“Their challenge is to enhance and retain a quality of life for people who suffer from a complex and wide range of medical conditions. It’s a demanding, responsible, and emotionally draining career but one which offers tremendous job satisfaction. They are compensated with a wage less than that of a supermarket worker, while having to provide their own car and phone to carry out their duties.

“On top of an already difficult situation they were handed the challenge of COVID-19. They were expected to care for and nurture patients discharged from hospital, cope with distressed relatives and battle to save the lives of the sick and dying, with little support or guidance – all while trying to protect their own lives and the lives of their families.

“The media has highlighted how wonderful our carers are and revealed the very inadequate wages they receive. Has any policy maker or government addressed this disgraceful situation? NO.

“Have we not learned from past mistakes? We may be living with a pandemic now, but we may be facing an even greater crisis soon, with winter flu and further lockdowns possible. Doctors and nurses are making contingency plans, but what about recruiting carers? The strain on the skeleton level of care workers we have now is enormous. Any additional stress placed on the system would surely see it collapse.

“Does it take the voice of a person completely wheelchair bound, living independently with the support of carers, to highlight the urgent problem of recruiting and paying an appropriate decent living wage to all carers? Is the government ignoring this crisis?

“Nicola Sturgeon has stood up for Scotland and been applauded. Can she now take urgent action to recruit and increase the pay to compensate and reward our dedicated carers? We are dependent on the NHS, but in a crisis, we rely on our trusted carer.

“How do we keep and recruit careers when they don’t receive a decent pay? We need to pay now not tomorrow, or the government may have bigger crisis on their hands.

“Unless action is taken now, the system will crash. We must act before it’s too late.”

Union calls for £15 hourly rate for social care workers

GMB Calls for £15 an hour Social Care Minimum Wage as new report reveals “Chronic Exploitation” of frontline staff

GMB Scotland has called on the Scottish Government and care providers to work towards the delivery of a £15 an hour minimum wage across the social care sector.

It follows the release today (Monday 17 August) of a new report commissioned by the union, “Show You Care – Voices from the frontline of Scotland’s broken social care sector”, featuring participation and testimony from over 1,600 members employed across Scotland’s care sector, which revealed:

Over four-fifths of care workers (both home care and care home staff) surveyed felt undervalued by their management or employer;
Over three-quarters have considered leaving their care sector because of this sense of undervalue;
Nearly three-quarters felt they did not have enough time with service users to deliver compassionate and dignified care;
Nearly four-fifths of care home staff surveyed reported under-staffing in their workplace;
Nearly half of all care workers surveyed said they worked unpaid hours to fulfil their allotted caring duties; and
Over four-fifths believe their industry in Scotland is not properly funded.

The sobering testimony from the frontline workers was gathered in the months prior to COVID-19 and as the virus emerged to grip the social care sector by Dr Eddie Donaghy, social science and health services researcher based at the University of Edinburgh, in conjunction with GMB Scotland’s Women’s Campaign Unit.

GMB Scotland Organiser Rhea Wolfson said: “Our social care sector’s greatest asset is its workforce but what COVID-19 has exposed to everyone is how poorly valued they are by their employers and government, a fact that is evidenced by our members in this report.

“But let’s be clear that the industry and politicians already understood pre-COVID the chronic exploitation of what is a predominantly women workforce; mired in low pay, precarious conditions, under resourced, overworked and a broken model of funding.

“Despite warnings, the failure to tackle these underlying diseases ultimately contributed to the lack of preparedness that resulted in the scandal of care workers left without proper PPE while NHS patients were put into their workplaces without proper testing.

“It must shake decision-makers into the obvious conclusion that proper value and investment in the people delivering care means better and more dignified care for the service user, with greater potential to retain skills and to attract more people to work in the sector.

“The prospect of leaving this exhausted and traumatised workforce on wages up to £5 an hour less than the UK average (nearly £15 an hour) just isn’t credible – what employer or politician is going to tell them they are worth less than average after all they are doing?

“That’s why GMB is going to “fight for fifteen” in social care. It won’t happen overnight but if we want to change care for the better and become a country of fair work, then we must listen these workers, value them properly and invest in their industry.”

Care home visiting expanded

Care home residents will be able to receive more outdoor visitors from today (Monday, 10 August), Health Secretary Jeane Freeman has confirmed.

From today, care home residents will be able to have up to three outdoor visitors from no more than two households provided their home meets strict criteria, with infection control measures remaining in place.

Since 3 July care homes which have met this criteria have been able to allow residents to meet with one designated visitor outdoors.

A care home will only be able to permit visiting if they have been COVID-free throughout the pandemic or if all affected residents have fully recovered and no residents or staff have had symptoms for 28 days and the home is actively participating in weekly staff testing.

Visitors will need to wear face coverings throughout their visit and physical distancing and hand and cough hygiene will need to be adhered to at all times.

Care home providers have also been asked to develop plans on how they can safely allow one designated indoor visitor for residents within their homes. These plans must be submitted by 24 August and will be signed off by the relevant health board’s Director of Public Health once they are satisfied with the plan and the home meets all the criteria for indoor visiting.

Essential visits, including those involving end of life care, and visits for residents who are experiencing distress have been permitted throughout the pandemic and should continue to be supported by care homes.

Ms Freeman said: “This has been, and continues to be, a very challenging time for care home residents, their families and staff.

“Care homes are first and foremost people’s homes and we are committed to reintroducing measures that allow residents to connect with their family and friends. But this must be done safely and with precautions.

“Progress has been made since we reintroduced one designated outdoor visitor earlier this month, and I am pleased the clinical advice is now that care homes that meet the strict criteria can now allow residents to have up to three outdoor visitors from no more than two households.

“It is important that we continue to monitor this situation and that all changes within care homes happen incrementally and with real caution to protect residents and staff.

“At this point in time clinical advice is not to restart indoor care home visiting, but to ensure the necessary plans are in place to move to this as soon as safe to do so. This is being continually monitored and I hope we can give a further update on this in the coming weeks.

“We are also working to identify the necessary steps needed to restart communal activity within care homes and to reintroduce external outings by residents. This is a complex piece of work and we will of course include key partners in this.”

Scottish Care Chief Executive Donald Macaskill said: “The last few months have been exceptionally hard for folks in our care homes and for their families, being separated with only limited, often virtual, contact.

“At the beginning of July we opened up care homes to outdoor visiting and I am very pleased that in our slow journey back to normal life we can shortly allow the careful start of a degree of indoor visiting subject to local sign off by Public Health Officials. As well as this, it is positive that an increase in the numbers able to visit residents outdoors is now possible.

“Throughout the restoration of family visiting, we have tried to strike the hard balance between getting people back to seeing and being with their families and keeping residents, staff and others safe from the virus. We are very aware of how pernicious this virus is so guidance and measures will remain in place to protect everyone.”

Alzheimer Scotland’s new resources for care homes

Alzheimer Scotland has been working to respond to the main concerns expressed by callers to their 24-hour Freephone Dementia Helpline (0808 808 3000) and now have a suite of resources on their website’s Coronavirus Information Hub including podcasts and videos.

A specific section provides information and resources for all those supporting people living with dementia in Scotland’s care homes.

Almost £3 million more for social care projects

31 projects secure an additional year’s funding

Funding for 31 third sector projects in social care has been extended to March 2022 with the announcement of an additional £2.9 million of Scottish Government backing.

Edinburgh projects include MECOPP, Lothian Centre for Inclusive Living and Thistle Foundation Health and Wellbeing.

Scottish Government’s ‘Support in the Right Direction’ programme was initially funded until March 2021, with funding partner Inspiring Scotland. The programme helps organisations who provide information, advice and advocacy to people accessing and managing their social care across Scotland.

The 12-month extension will enable project staff to continue their vital work helping people and carers navigate their way through the social care system, make the most of the ‘self-directed support’ options available to them, and access the support and care they need in their community.

Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport Jeane Freeman said: “I am very pleased to be able to extend funding for Inspiring Scotland to manage these projects for an additional 12 months.

“The programme has consistently demonstrated the benefits of ensuring supported people have practical information and advocacy to live their lives.

“Independent advice and advocacy, plus support to make connections in their community, relieves stress and anxiety and helps people and carers maximise their choices and control over their arrangements, which is key to Scotland’s social care system.

“I am grateful to Inspiring Scotland and the individual projects for continuing this vital work and providing additional support to our social care sector.”

Inspiring Scotland Chief Executive Celia Tennant added: “We’re very pleased that all 31 Support in the Right Direction projects will receive funding for a further 12 months.

“This announcement recognises the importance of independent support for people, as part of local health and social care delivery, and provides some stability for these essential charities.”

The Support in the Right Direction programme is managed on behalf of Scottish Government by Inspiring Scotland.

Click here for Details of the funded projects

EIJB cuts: candidate writes to Ben McPherson

Katrina Faccenda, Scottish Labour’s prospective candidate for Edinburgh North and Leith in next May’s Holyrood elections, has written to Public Finance Mnister (and local MSP) Ben McPherson over cuts to Edinburgh Integration Joint Board’s budget.

She explained: “Today I have written to Ben Macpherson MSP regarding the proposed cuts to services currently provided through the Edinburgh Integrated Joint Board. Urgent action is needed and as the Minister for Public Finance and Migration, I think Ben must speak up on behalf of his constituents.

“I am incredibly concerned about the effects of more austerity-driven cuts In the Edinburgh Northern and Leith constituency where underfunding of local government has already had a devastating impact and there are already too many living in poverty and struggling with health inequality.”

The letter reads:

“Dear Ben,

I am Katrina Faccenda, prospective Labour MSP candidate for Edinburgh Northern & Leith.

Like many of Edinburgh’s citizens, I felt the latest round of cuts to health and social care services in the city was really the final straw.(I refer to the Phase Zero cuts agreed by the EIJB (Edinburgh Integration Joint Board)).

The EIJB members confirmed that they are upset about the changes which will have a significant negative impact on Edinburgh’s most vulnerable residents.

Do you, as Edinburgh Northern and Leith’s representative in the Scottish Parliament, share my concern that these cuts will adversely affect people in the constituency?

Even before coronavirus, three wards in this constituency were reported to have child poverty levels higher than 30% (Edinburgh Poverty Commission Interim Report, Sept 2019)

You have stated that you are ‘ focused on being a passionate voice in the Scottish Parliament for local communities and for positive change’. (parliament.scot, Current Members, Personal Information) As the Minister responsible for Public Finance how do you plan to protect the community from such reductions in vital services?

Best Regards

Katrina”