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Revised SSSC Codes of Practice

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The revised Codes of Practice for Social Service Workers and Employers (the Codes) came into effect on 1 November 2016. The Codes set out the standards of practice and behaviour expected of social service workers and their employers.

The SSSC updated the Codes to reflect current social service policy and practice following wide consultation and engagement with the sector.

Download the SSSC Codes of Practice for Social service Workers and Employers here.

The SSSC Codes of Practice for Social Service Workers and Employers sets out the standards social workers, social care, early years and young people’s workers and their employers should meet.

What has changed?

The main changes to the Codes are:

However the Codes are largely the same as before with some updates to the language and terminology we use.

We didn’t change too much in the Codes as during our consultation we heard lots of good examples of how the Codes support workers’ practice and the delivery of high quality social services.

You can see the full details of the changes to the Codes in an overview here.

 

SSSC Code of Practice for Social Service Workers

The Code of Practice for Social Service Workers sets out clear standards of professional conduct and practice that social service workers must meet in their everyday work.

Workers are responsible for making sure their practice meets the required standards and that no action or omission on their part harms the wellbeing of people who use services. The Code is part of the wider package of legislation, practice standards and employers’ policies and procedures that social service workers must meet.

 

SSSC Codes of Practice for Social Service Employers

The SSSC Code of Practice for Social Service Employers sets out the responsibilities of employers in the regulation of social service workers.

Employers are responsible for making sure they meet the required standards and supporting their workers to meet the standards set out in the Code for Social Service Workers.

The Care Inspectorate take the Codes of Practice into account during inspection of services and may take action to support improvement or require change if providers don’t meet the required standards set out in the Codes.

 

What do the SSSC Codes of Practice mean for the public?

By setting clear standards of professional practice and behaviour, the Codes are an important part of regulating and improving the quality of care for people who use services.

The Codes let you know what you can expect from social service workers, whether they are social workers, early years practitioners, care home staff or any of the many other social service roles.

If you are concerned a worker providing a service for you or someone you care for does not meet the standards set out in the Codes you need to tell someone. Visit the SSSC raising a concern section to find out more.

www.sssc.uk.com

 

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Care Inspectorate : Complaints about care report

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People in Scotland are using better quality care services, and are also more confident about complaining when services do not meet expected standards.

That is the message from a report published today by Scotland’s social care scrutiny and improvement body, the Care Inspectorate.

The report shows that complaints about care services have increased over a five year period by about 45%, but also shows that during that time the quality of care overall has improved.

Karen Reid, chief executive of the Care Inspectorate said: “Care services operating in Scotland must be registered with the Care Inspectorate. We are responsible for registering and inspecting almost 14,000 care services, ensuring that standards are high and supporting improvement where necessary.

“We know from our inspections that the majority of care services in Scotland perform well and that the quality of care is good or better in the overwhelming majority of services.

“Our complaints procedure allows people who use services, their friends, families and others, to raise concerns they have when things are not as good as they should be.  We use our complaints procedure to help us support services to improve wherever possible and that enables us to ensure people in Scotland continue to receive high quality, safe and compassionate care.”

The report presents a range of statistical information from complaints about care services over the past five years. The volume of complaints received over that period has increased from 2,800 received in 2011/12 to 4,086 in 2015/16. Over the same period, the quality of care overall has improved, with the percentage of services achieving grades of good or better for all quality themes increasing from 85% to 88%.

Karen Reid added: “Whilst we would encourage anyone with a concern about care to raise it directly with the service in the first instance, where possible, the increase in complaints received by us most likely reflects an increasing awareness of the Care Inspectorate’s role in investigating complaints. It also shows that our efforts to encourage people to report concerns are helping people feel more confident to come to us with issues.

“We take all concerns brought to us seriously and consider information given to us carefully. Where we uphold complaints we work closely with services to support improvement. Our focus in all areas of our work, including complaints, is on improving quality of care and outcomes for people who use care services. We do this both in the course of the investigation as well as using the intelligence from complaint investigations to help us better target problem areas.

“Complaints can be made in writing, through our website, or by telephone through our contact centre. Complainants can opt to remain anonymous if they wish. When someone makes a complaint, they can choose to remain completely anonymous.

“Everyone in Scotland has the right to safe, compassionate care which meets their needs and respects their rights. Anyone with a concern can contact us, anonymously if necessary, by calling 0345 600 9527.”

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One week until our Annual Care Home Conference and Exhibition!

It’s now just over a week away until Scottish Care’s Annual Care Home Conference and Exhibition at the Hilton Hotel in Glasgow and we hope you can make it!

With an engaging and informative line up of speakers, exhibitors and workshops we are set for a hugely positive day.

The programme includes keynote inputs from Shona Robison, Cabinet Secretary for Health & Sport, an interview with Rami Okasha & Kevin Mitchell of the Care Inspectorate and Sally Loudon the new Chief Executive of CoSLA talking about Care Homes at the Heart of…Reform and lots more.

 This is the only national conference devoted to Care Home provision in Scotland and a crucial opportunity for us to raise the profile of the sector and we need your support to do this.  Please make sure of your places and book now.

Day Delegate tickets for Scottish Care members are £60 each inclusive of VAT and can be reserved by phoning: 01292 270240 or email: [email protected] or by going on line at: www.carehomeconference2016.eventbrite.co.uk (Card Payment Only)

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What’s in a name? The latest blog from Dr Donald Macaskill

It was in Shakespeare’s tale of warring families and the star-crossed lovers Romeo and Juliet where this questioning phrase first appeared:

‘What’s in a name? that which we call a rose

By any other name would smell as sweet.’

 

So what is indeed in a name?

Names have a power and an intensity all of their own. By naming we impart identity and belonging, association and family. Names can confer status and meaning. Just look at the number of books aspirant parents can purchase when they are at the point of choosing a name for their as yet unborn child. Equally names can indicate age or cultural background and heritage. Indeed not so long ago there was a debate about whether some names were more likely than others to offer greater advancement and opportunity to their holder.

What we are called matters to us. We grow into our birth names, or change or shorten or adapt them to suit who we are and what we want to present to the world.

So it is important that we hold on to that part of our identity which is captured in the way in which we allow and expect others to address us.

The American novelist and blogger Ronni Bennett (see www.timegoesby.net/) was advanced in years when she wrote:

“Not a week goes by that someone doesn’t call me honey or sweetie. My name is Ms. Bennett.”

 

When I first started working in social services it was not uncommon for staff, especially for folks with a learning disability, to use language such as ‘the girls’ or ‘the boys’ or to treat individuals in a manner as if despite their elder age, they had somehow moved to the other end of the age spectrum. Most said at the time that it portrayed a sense of caring and nurture. I remember too how a very proud older relative objected audibly to me that she was made to feel like a child by the staff in the hospital ward she was temporarily resident within.

In older people’s services in care homes and care at home/housing support I think by in large we have long since moved on to use language respectful of age and individuality. The same alas is not true of wider society.

I still come across professionals and others in our communities whose attitudes to age and those who are old are very unreconstructed.  Names or language may seem an incidental issue on which to focus but its an issue that lies at the heart of the dignity and human valuing which good care and support offers.

But language can also foster and perpetuate stereotypes. I have read recently of the work of Becca Levy, the Yale professor of epidemiology and psychology. Her research focuses on ageism and highlights that most of the stereotypes around ageism are developed and adapted when we are still very young. Reinforced as we grow older, they can then become self-stereotypes with dangerous consequences. Her studies have shown these negative beliefs can diminish our own individual capacities and can as a consequence reduce and affect the quality of our life and longevity.

“Stereotyping also stops us from knowing the person behind the assumption. Which explains why some people shout at the elderly even if there’s no hearing problem or when adult children take over the decision-making of a still-capable parent.”

 

So according to Levy it is very important that we counter negative stereotyping with positive images of ageing and being old with our young children. Her work highlighted one study where 66 percent of 4 to 7-year-olds said they wouldn’t want to be old. In another, the majority of reactions from all children asked how they’d feel about becoming elderly were rated as negative. They included, “I would feel awful.”

Seeing age as a positive in nursery rather than as something to be avoided would be a start to addressing the stereotypes! Using language and names that affirm individuality and identity rather than using language to depersonalise and diminish would equally help.

So what’s in a name?  The whole of a person’s life, rich and potential; full and meaningful; past story and future living. So let’s not limit our naming and let’s challenge the stereotypes.

 

Dr Donald Macaskill

@DrDMacaskill

 

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Announcement of Scottish Care partnership agreement with the Clydesdale Bank

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Scottish Care would like to announce it has entered into a partnership agreement with the Clydesdale Bank for a period of 3 years. The agreement will see the organisations work together for the benefit of the independent care sector in Scotland with the bank supporting a number of Scottish Care events and initiatives.

“I am delighted to welcome Clydesdale Bank into a partnership agreement with Scottish Care. Our membership covers the length and breadth of Scotland and we are pleased to enter into a new relationship, which goes beyond our sponsor supporting our annual, Care Home Conference and Awards.

We look forward to the next three years where we will work with colleagues at the Clydesdale Bank to ensure that at a time of significant change and flux in the care sector we are both able to support our distinctive pieces of work.  We hope this will be seen in our joint working including through seminars and workshops which will run throughout the country.”

Dr Donald Macaskill,

Chief Executive of Scottish Care

 

Derek Breingan. Head of Health and Social Care Sector UK, Clydesdale Bank said:

“The care sector is incredibly important to the Scottish economy and plays a valuable role in communities across the country. Despite the challenges, care providers are investing, innovating and enhancing the services they provide to continue delivering excellent levels of care. We have been working with care providers for many years and,  as a very important part of our business, Clydesdale Bank is delighted to be partnering with Scottish Care and to be involved in this event which provides a fantastic platform to promote Scotland’s care home sector”

 

For enquiries:

Jamie McGeechan

Communications and Events Officer, Scottish Care

01292 270 240

[email protected]

www.scottishcare.org

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National Health and Social Care Standards – consultation roadshows

National Health and Social Care Standards – consultation roadshows

 

Healthcare Improvement Scotland and the Care Inspectorate are delivering a series of consultation roadshows on the new National Health and Social Care Standards.  These consultations will be taking place across Scotland to provide information and to gather feedback and responses on the Scottish Government’s public consultation on the draft National Health and Social Care Standards.

 

The existing National Care Standards are a set of standards for regulated care services in Scotland.  The new draft standards are designed differently and are proposed to be applicable across all social care and healthcare provision.  They are designed to help services understand the quality and standards of care that they should provide to deliver better outcomes.  They will be used by inspectors when carrying out inspections of health and care services, as well as others involved in the planning, assessment, commissioning and delivery of care.

 

These events are an opportunity to get involved in the public consultation on the National Health and Social Care Standards.

Your feedback on the new draft standards will contribute towards improving the quality of care for people across Scotland.

There will be a short presentation about the broader National Care Standards review, the development work that has happened to date, and the proposed next steps.  There will also be a workshop to facilitate a discussion to allow for providing feedback, suggestions and comments on the draft new standards.

 

Consultation events:

Monday 14th November, 11:00am – 1pm,  Care Inspectorate, Castle House, Fairways Business Park, Inverness

Wednesday 16th November, 1:30pm – 3:30pm, Stirling Community Hospital (Education Suite),Stirling

Monday 21st November, 11:00am – 1pm, The Suttie Centre, Foresterhill, Aberdeen

Friday 2nd December, 10:00am – 12:00 and 1pm – 3:00pm, Rooms 6A & 6B, Delta House, Healthcare Improvement Scotland, 50 West Nile StreetGlasgow

Thursday 15th December, 10:00am – 12:30, Lecture Theatre
, Clinical Skills
, Western Isles Hospital, Stornoway

 

To request a place, please email your preferred date and time to: [email protected] or call 01382 207328.  Spaces are limited so you are encouraged to respond as soon as possible.  An email will be sent to confirm your place.

Don’t worry if you are unable to attend, as you will be able to respond to the public consultation from 24 October by following the link on the National Care Standards review website www.newcarestandards.scot 

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Get your tickets now : Only 2 weeks until the National Conference!

It’s now only 2 weeks to go until the Annual Care Home Conference and Exhibition on Friday 18th November at the Hilton Hotel in Glasgow!

With a great programme (see attached), engaging speakers from across the sector and a wide range of industry exhibitors we are set for another great Conference and Exhibition.

It’s an event not to be missed, with keynote inputs from Shona Robison, Cabinet Secretary for Health & Sport, an interview with Rami Okasha & Kevin Mitchell of the Care Inspectorate and Sally Loudon the new Chief Executive of CoSLA talking about Care Homes at the Heart of…Reform and lots more.

This is the only national conference devoted to Care Home provision in Scotland and a unique opportunity to come together to learn, network and keep up to date with developments in the care sector in Scotland.

Please make sure of your places and book now.

Day Delegate tickets for Scottish Care members are £60 each inclusive of VAT and can be reserved by phoning: 01292 270240 or email: [email protected] or purchasing online at:
www.carehomeconference2016.eventbrite.co.uk

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Event : Discussion on Audit Scotland Report – A Watershed for Social work in Scotland?

A Watershed for Social work in Scotland?

In response to Audit Scotland’s report on ‘Social Work in Scotland’ , Scottish Care alongside partners including Alliance Scotland, Iriss and the SSSC are holding an event to discuss findings and next steps from the report.

 

 Audit Scotland recently concluded that social work in Scotland is at a ‘watershed’, with vital decisions needing to be taken on the provision of services in the future.

 

Audit Scotland also stressed that the public and people who access the range of social work services provided across Scotland must be more involved in shaping future provision, with a debate required “on the level, the nature and affordability of services.”

If you would like to find out more about the findings of the report as well as to contribute towards the debate on the future of Social Work in Scotland Scottish Care invite you to join us at an event in Glasgow on Wednesday 30th November to take part.
 

Dr Donald Macaskill, Scottish Care CEO said:

“Scottish Care is delighted to support this event. The Audit Scotland report raises important challenges and issues which need to be addressed by all partners to endure we continue to adequately support our most vulnerable citizens.”
 
The session will bring together a wide range of stakeholders to consider the issues raised in the report, stimulate discussion and gather views on the future direction of social work.

The event is open to:

    • People who use support and services
    • unpaid carers
    • scrutiny bodies
    • representatives of third sector organisations
    • social workers
    • providers of health and social care
    • Scottish Government officials, councillors and other politicians.

 

To secure your free place or for more information please contact
Rhona Millar on 0141 404 0231 or you can email at [email protected]

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Focus on the Insight Sessions at Conference : Workforce Matters, Scottish Care

Voices from the Front Line of Nursing

(Workforce Matters, Scottish Care – Katharine Ross and Elaine MacMaster)

 

Throughout September, members of the Scottish Care Team travelled to care homes across the country, interviewing nurses and asking them about their experiences of working in the social care sector.

We wanted to know what attracted them into the job, the challenges they faced and what made then want to stay or leave.

This insight session will explore the key findings and involve participants in identifying how the report’s recommendations can be most effectively progressed.

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A practical guide to revalidation for nurses working in social care

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The FoNS Centre for Nursing Innovation are delighted to share a new animation ‘A practical guide to revalidation for nurses working in social care’ which is supported and funded by the RCN Foundation.

 

FoNS believes that ‘revalidation is a positive opportunity because it encourages an ongoing process of sharing, reflecting and improving’, a view shared by Kate Lettin, Revalidation Officer, NMC who said ‘this is a very positive and practical video that will be extremely useful for nurses working in social care’.

 

Deepa Korea, Head of RCN Foundation said  “We are delighted to have funded this animation. The RCN Foundation recognises the challenges that nursing staff face every day in trying to live up to high expectations as well as providing care that is value based and person centred in a range of settings. We hope it has a positive impact not only for nurses in social care but to all nurses.”

 

FoNS Chief Executive, Dr Theresa Shaw said, “I am delighted we are launching this practical resource to help nurses working in social care prepare for revalidation. The social care sector plays a vital role in caring for people who are vulnerable, have long term care needs and/or are at the end of life; yet the nurses working in these areas can miss out on support and development opportunities.”

 

This free access, practical guide is one way in which FoNS is reaching out to offer support. The video animation is available via the FoNS website  and offers a step-by-step guide to nursing revalidation. The script is also available to download.