Scottish Care Media Release

For immediate release

Scottish Care voices concern over North Ayrshire homecare support

Scottish Care is the representative body of care at home providers who are charitable, not for profit, private and employee owned. Our members deliver most of the care and support for adults and older adults right across Scotland. As an organisation we very rarely make public comment on local actions, but we find ourselves unable to remain silent about what is happening in North Ayrshire at the present time.

In a recent statement North Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership (NAHSCP) has stated that they have decided to take all homecare support ‘in house’ and to end the contracts of existing non-Council providers from June 2024.

Scottish Care is concerned that actions of the NAHSCP endangers the care and support of those who are at the moment receiving services in the North Ayrshire area and which in the future will limit the legal rights and choices of residents in the area.

Scottish Care has several major concerns:

• The NAHSCP has stated that their decision to bring all homecare services in house is for reasons of quality and that they have ‘invested’ in this decision. The NAHSCP has not published the costs of in-house services although precedent suggests they will cost more than double the cost of outsourced care and support it is possible therefore that in a time of austerity and service cuts that this decision will result in fewer people in North Ayrshire receiving the care and support they deserve and require, in an effort to balance books.
• Whilst the NAHSCP has sought to reassure individuals that they will have the right to remain with existing providers and staff, we have no confidence of the independence of information and support being given to people. Will citizens have real choice and an independent support to allow them to make the decision which is right for them rather than what suits the NAHSCP?
• Every person who requires social care and support, anywhere in Scotland, has the right to choose a provider (whether the Council or not) to provide that care. Scottish Care is concerned that in the future residents of North Ayrshire will be denied this legal right. We need assurance from the NAHSCP that they will continue to make available the services of other providers and that they will give independent information about their availability, and that they will comply with their legal duties in terms of the Social Care (Self-directed Support) (Scotland) Act 2013 (SDS Act).
• The SDS Act places a requirement upon a local authority or HSCPs ‘to promote a variety of providers of support and a variety of support’ (sections 19 of the Act). This means that people have a range of providers to choose from. Scottish Care does not believe that anyone (whether a public, private or charitable provider) should have an effective monopoly in any area. The right to informed choice which the SDS Act enshrines requires there to be real choice. How can that be the case if the Council delivers all services? We would like North Ayrshire HSCP to communicate with ourselves and more importantly to the citizens of North Ayrshire as to how they will fulfil their legal requirements and how they intend to ‘promote a variety of providers.?
• Scottish Care also highlights the report on the National Care Service (NCS)(Scotland) Bill (Stage 1), in relation to ethical commissioning. Recommendation 86 emphasises a “personalisation agenda as established within self-directed support legislation, ensuring choice and control for individuals to ensure the best possible outcomes”. This is achieved through a “plurality of provider to ensure that local care meets the needs and preferences of individuals”. Given this, Scottish Care seeks clarification surrounding the NAHSCP’s decision to conflict with the recommendations of the Scottish Parliament’s Health, Social Care and Sport Committee, and the subsequent legislative direction of Scotland in regard to ethical commissioning.
• Lastly, the NAHSCP believes that most of the workers employed by existing providers will want to transfer to their employment. We already know many will not because they simply do not want to work for the Council. This will mean an even greater shortage of workers at such a critical time. Scottish Care would like to know if the NAHSCP has undertaken an equality and human rights risk assessment on their decision especially as it affects the rights of this predominantly female and older workforce. Sadly, we do not believe the rights of frontline workers have been respected.

In conclusion every citizen in Scotland who requires social care and support deserves to be treated in a manner that respects their individual dignity and the right to have control and choice over their lives. The SDS Act came about after years of campaigning by disability and older people groups who were tired of a situation where there was a take it or leave it approach, where people had no choice or control over the social care and support they receive. Scottish Care is very concerned that these hard fought for human rights are effectively being denied by the actions of the North Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership. By their actions NAHSCP have taken a step back in time rather than a step forward. Local residents and users of services both now and in the future, urgently need the NAHSCP to answer some fundamental questions.

-Ends-

We’re thrilled to announce that early bird tickets for the highly anticipated Care at Home & Housing Support Conference & Exhibition 2024 are now available! This year’s event, themed “Care Revolution – Time to Act” will take place on Friday, 17 May 2024 at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Glasgow.

This is an exclusive opportunity to secure your spot at a discounted rate! By booking before 5:00 pm on Friday 29th March 2024, you’ll not only guarantee your attendance but also save on ticket prices.

Here’s a breakdown of the ticket options:

• Early Bird Members: £60+VAT (£72)
• Early Bird Non-Members: £105+VAT (£126)
• Standard Members: £70+VAT (£84)
• Standard Non-Members: £130+VAT (£156)

Join us for insightful discussions, industry insights, and invaluable networking opportunities. This conference serves as a platform to delve into crucial topics, share best practices, and explore innovative solutions in the care at home and housing support sector.

Be a part of shaping the future of care at home and housing support – book your places now and take advantage of our early bird offer!

Find out more and get tickets on: https://scottishcare.org/care-at-home-housing-support-conference-2024/

Artificial Intelligence (‘AI’) offers many opportunities and potential benefits to adult social care. Generative AI, such as Large Language Models (LLMs) that power AI chatbots, can aid with various tasks in social care.  However, many activities in social care directly touch on peoples’ human rights and wellbeing. At this point of time, there are no guidelines for people using social care services, care providers including family carers, tech developers or organisations integrating AI chatbots into their services, commissioners etc. on what responsible use of generative AI in social care entails.

On the 1st of February 2024, representatives of thirty organisations and individuals working in Adult Social Care met at the University of Oxford, Reuben College, to discuss the benefits and risks of using ‘generative AI’ in social care. The event was the first in a series of “AI in adult social care” roundtable events organised by Dr Caroline Green at the University of Oxford Institute for Ethics in AI, Reuben College, the Digital Care Hub and Casson Consulting.

The aim of the event was to articulate a collective understanding of generative AI’s role in social care settings and to discuss its challenges, benefits and viable use cases. There was a core focus on what would constitute responsible and ethical use of this emerging technology.

Following the event, a statement has been published which Scottish Care is delighted to endorse.

The statement outlines the need for robust and rapid work to co-produce actional guidelines for appropriate usage and deployment of generative AI in social care. In addition, it commits the group to engaging in a co-production and consultation process drawing in more people and organisations in social care.

Read the full statement here.

Dr Caroline Green from the Institute for Ethics in AI said:

“Adult social care is about supporting people to live independently and to protect fundamental human rights. Generative AI offers many potential benefits and opportunities to adult social care. However, the rapid development and wide availability of generative AI, such as AI chatbots, is a concern when it comes to use cases in adult social care settings because some fundamental values defining what quality care looks like are at stake if such technology is used inappropriately. We therefore need to address the gap of knowledge and guidance around generative AI quickly, involving all groups of people who are affected and working in social care provision”

How can ethical commissioning support the unique care needs of rural communities?

Scottish Care members and other interested stakeholders are invited to a bespoke workshop session on 27 March 2024, from 14:00 – 16:30, at the Inverness Creative Academy.

As part of a roundtable and Q & A session, you are invited to learn from and share your experiences with expert local stakeholders from NHS Highland and Scottish Care, on:

• Barriers and levels to care delivery within rural and island communities
• Cases of good commissioning practice across the locality
• Ways to support the ongoing participation of rural/highland communities within the NCS/commissioning discussion

Spaces are available to book, free of charge, through Eventbrite.

The session will come with teas, coffees and snacks, and do let us know us any dietary and/or accessibility requirements.