Question reference: S5W-01051
- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
- Date lodged: 27 June 2016
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Current status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 20 July 2016
Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that all adults with care requirements should be provided with a timely and accurate needs assessment and whether this should be taken into account when making any care arrangements.
Answer
<>Local authorities have a duty under the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968 to assess a person’s care needs. The statutory guidance accompanying the Social Care (Self-directed Support) (Scotland) Act 2013 makes it clear that any assessment, communication or provision of support must be made in accordance with the statutory principles and values: participation, dignity, involvement, informed choice, and collaboration and respect a person's human rights.
The Scottish Government would always expect social care assessments to be carried out as timeously as possible. For those who are assessed as being at critical or substantial risk there is a maximum waiting time of six weeks, from confirmation of need to the delivery of free personal and nursing care services.