Question reference: S6W-08886
- Asked by: Stephanie Callaghan, MSP for Uddingston and Bellshill, Scottish National Party
- Date lodged: 7 June 2022
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Current status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 14 June 2022
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to improve commissioning and procurement in the social care sector in advance of establishing a National Care Service, and what assurances it will provide that its plans for a National Care Service will incentivise providers to (a) focus on providing the highest quality of care and (b) prioritise enhanced pay and conditions for social care staff.
Answer
We are helping public bodies and providers engage in the new and changing responsibilities ahead of establishing a National Care Service (NCS). In December 2021, Scottish Procurement Policy Note (SPPN 7/2021) advised Integration Joint Boards and public bodies to review their Strategic Commissioning plans, social care procurements and contracts to identify opportunities to align with ethical commissioning and procurement principles. We fund the Coalition of Care and Support Providers in Scotland to help organisations wishing to improve in this area. The NCS will ensure enhanced pay and conditions for workers through the introduction of national pay bargaining for this sector.