Chamber and committees

Through our Scottish GovernmentOffice in Brussels, we have made plans for a series of cultural events inBrussels during 2008. The programme will includeevents featuring Scottish Opera and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, and a writers’series featuring well-known Scottish writers such as Christopher Brookmyre, IainBanks and Quintin Jardine, as well as talents like Kevin MacNeil, a young up andcoming Gaelic author. The audience for theseevents will come from a range of member state delegations, and will encourage interculturaldialogue and cultural exchange between Scotland and its European neighbours.

Scottish Government officialshave liaised periodically with COSLA officials, in order to ensure that they wereaware of this initiative, and have in addition disseminated information directlyto all local authorities on the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue 2008.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-8144 on 28 January 2008.All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website; the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

The Scottish Government acceptsthe findings of the Care Commission’s report Pressure for Change, which includes important recommendations for care providers, NHS boardsand local authorities.

Scottish ministers do not providedirect guidance to staff in care homes. It is the responsibility of the providers of care homeservices to ensure that staff are appropriately trained and that care is providedin line with the National Care Standards. Other professionals also have importantroles in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of pressure sores amongst residents.

However, we are keen to ensurea national approach in responding to this issue. The Scottish Government will, therefore,establish a National Programme Board shortly, to be chaired by the Chief NursingOfficer. The board will involve relevant representative bodies and will overseeand quality assure a programme of work on pressure ulcers and skin care. The boardwill consider and advise on any necessary action.

I refer the member to the answerto question S3W-8144 on 28 January 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions areavailable on the Parliament’s website; the search facility for which can befound at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

I refer the member to answerto question S3W-8144 on 28 January 2008. Allanswers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website;the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

NHS Quality Improvement Scotlandpublished in December 2007 National Standards for Integrated Care Pathways for mentalhealth, including the management and treatment of dementia. The standards statethat health boards and staff should ensure that patients with dementia receive careappropriate to their individual needs and that staff should have relevant trainingto provide that care.

I refer the member to questionS3W-8133 on 23 January 2008. All answers towritten parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website; the searchfacility for which can be found at:

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Following on from the publicationof the Mental Welfare Commission report, Older and Wiser, NHSboards were asked to review services and practice in continuing care wards in lightof the findings of the report and to produce an action plan to ensure they meetappropriate standards for the privacy and dignity of patients and access to physicaland mental activities and care appropriate to their needs. Responses fromhealth boards showed progress on key issues. NHS boards are being encouraged tocontinue implementation of their action plans.

We have identified dementia asa national priority and a range of work is in progress to further improve dementiacare:

we are funding a joint pilotproject between the Dementia Services Development Centre, NHS Forth Valley and otherpartners to improve local dementia services;

NHS Quality Improvement Scotlandpublished in December 2007 National Standards for Integrated Care Pathways for mentalhealth, including the management and treatment of dementia, and

we have established a NationalForum on Dementia, involving key stakeholders, including the Mental Welfare Commission,to advise on key aspects of dementia care.

Care home providers are requiredby regulations to ensure that staff employed in the care home receive training appropriateto the work they are to perform. The National Care Standards - Care Homesfor Older People also require that the carewhich residents receive is provided by management and staff whose professional trainingand expertise allows them to meet the residents’ needs. The Care Commission as thenational regulator of care services ensures that regulations and Standards are met.

Qualifications criteria for registrationby the Scottish Social Services Council take account of the roles undertaken bymanagers and the skills they require. Recognised qualifications must meet the principlesof integration of practice and learning, be recognised within the Scottish Creditand Qualifications Framework (SCQF), and underpin a knowledge and value base thatis consistent with the Code of Practice for Social Service Workers. Once registereda worker will be required to undertake Post Registration Training and Learning tomaintain and update their skills and knowledge

The Scottish Social ServicesCouncil, which is responsible for registering people who work in social care andregulating their education and training, has published a skills set setting outthe SVQ units most relevant for staff working with people with dementia. The contentof the skills set links with SVQ Level 3 in Health and Social Care.