- Asked by: Mary Scanlon, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 02 October 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 28 October 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive how people with depression and anxiety are being assisted in early diagnosis and early intervention for treatment and support.
Answer
Our published standards for integrated care for those with depression underline the importance of early assessment and interventions for successful planning and care. GPs are using validated assessment tools for patients with a new diagnosis of depression repeated at regular intervals to monitor progress and outcome.
The GP contract also provides additional resources for objective assessments and provision of information on suitable interventions including self help, life style advice and other interventions. Pharmacists also advise on mental health and wellbeing issues.
Our national and local public health and anti-stigma campaigns also encourage earlier presentations and fits with other initiatives including the Breathing Space national telephone advice and signposting service for those experiencing low mood, depression or anxiety.
As announced in the summer, we are also considering the extent to which mental health services could be brought into the 18 weeks waiting time target. In most cases those requiring urgent access to mental health services already receive treatment well within 18 weeks but we are committed to further addressing delays where these occur. Our initial considerations will be completed shortly.
- Asked by: Mary Scanlon, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 03 October 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 28 October 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive how many children aged between five and 15 are currently receiving support from weight management services.
Answer
Information about all child weight management activity in Scotland is not currently held centrally.
A new HEAT target was introduced in 2008 that requires each NHS board to deliver an agreed number of child healthy weight interventions. The minimum number of interventions required in each board area reflects the estimated size of the population of children aged five to 15 years whose BMI lies outwith a healthy range. Data on child weight management services will be collected as part of the monitoring and evaluation of the target.
- Asked by: Mary Scanlon, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 09 October 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 28 October 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive why the quality standards of care services will be graded rather than a consistent standard being applied across Scotland.
Answer
A consistent approach to grading across Scotland is being taken by the Care Commission. The National Care Standards and the requirements in the Regulation of Care (Scotland) Act 2001 provide a national framework for the regulation of care services. The National Care Standards apply equally to all care services and provide the basis for the commission''s grading system.
- Asked by: Mary Scanlon, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 09 October 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 28 October 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-16145 by Shona Robison on 17 September 2008, how it will ensure that people using care services, and appropriate stakeholders, are given copies of the care standards and the reports on care service carried out by the Care Commission and HM Inspectorate of Education, where appropriate.
Answer
The Care Commission places all care service inspection reports and grades on its website. The grading system was introduced on 1 April 2008, with all care services being graded at their first inspection after that date.
There is an expectation that care services will make their inspection reports, which includes the grades, available to care service users and their carers. It is also expected that a copy of the latest inspection report be displayed within the service.
Reports of integrated inspections by the Care Commission and HMIe are published and copies sent to the services to be distributed to parents, staff and other stakeholders. The reports are placed on the HMIe website and linked to the Care Commission website for access by any interested party.
The National Care Standards set out what people using care services can expect from the provider. We have been running an awareness campaign about the National Care Standards since 30 June and we are looking at ways to extend this in Spring 2009. The standards are available online at
www.scotland.gov.uk/health/standardsandsponsorship, or from:
Blackwell''s Bookshop
53-63 South Bridge
EDINBURGH
EH1 1YS
Tel: 0131 622 8283
Fax: 0131 557 8149
Email: [email protected]
- Asked by: Mary Scanlon, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 09 October 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 28 October 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive whether all parents who place their children in nursery care will be notified of the grade of service given by the Care Commission.
Answer
The Care Commission places all care service inspection reports and grades on its website. The grading system was introduced on 1 April 2008, with all care services being graded at their first inspection after that date.
There is an expectation that care services will make their inspection reports, which includes the grades, available to care service users and their carers. It is also expected that a copy of the latest inspection report be displayed within the service.
- Asked by: Mary Scanlon, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 09 October 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 28 October 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-16140 by Shona Robison on 17 September 2008, whether care services that consistently do not comply with Care Standards and receive a lower grade will be allowed to continue to provide services.
Answer
The Care Commission regulates for improvement. Services which do not meet the National Care Standards and receive a lower grade will be expected to improve. The commission has a wide range of powers available to it under the Regulation of Care (Scotland) Act 2001 which it uses in a proportionate and incremental way. The application of these powers is an operational matter for the Care Commission.
- Asked by: Mary Scanlon, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 09 October 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 28 October 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive whether users of care services can expect adherence to all care standards regardless of the grade given by the Care Commission.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-17007 on 28 October 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.parliamanet.uk/webapp/wa.search.
- Asked by: Mary Scanlon, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 09 October 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 28 October 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive whether nursery care providers will be expected to adhere to the national care standards regardless of the grade they receive from the Care Commission.
Answer
Yes, all care services are expected to meet the expectations of the National Care Standards. The Care Commission''s grading scheme is based on a number of quality statements within four quality themes. The quality statements are based on the National Care Standards.
- Asked by: Mary Scanlon, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 09 October 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 28 October 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-16140 by Shona Robison on 17 September 2008, what action should be taken by the Care Commission when care providers refuse to implement recommendations over a period of three years.
Answer
The Care Commission''s action in relation to any recommendations or requirements on care services will vary from case to case. The application of its enforcement powers is an operational matter for the Care Commission.
The member can contact the Chief Executive of the Care Commission at the following address:
Ms Jacquie Roberts
Chief Executive
Care Commission
Compass House
11 Riverside Drive
Dundee
DD1 4NY
Tel: 01382 207102
Email: [email protected]/.
- Asked by: Mary Scanlon, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 02 October 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 27 October 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive when reports will be published on progress of the local authority single outcome agreements.
Answer
Subject to the agreement of other partners, we expect councils to publish their annual reports on single outcome agreements in the autumn of each year. An interim progress report is expected (for the first year only) around the turn of the financial year with the first annual report expected in autumn of 2009.
