Chamber and committees

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-01336 on 29 July 2016. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx

This Government is committed to reviewing the number, structure and regulation of both territorial and special health boards and their relationships with local councils. The detail of this work has yet to be finalised but will be subject to engagement with Parliament and broader consultation.

We need to create an NHS Board structure that reflects the new health and social care landscape and which better supports the provision of excellent hospital and specialist care for Scotland’s population. That means a structure that will lead NHSScotland forward while ensuring the focus is on patients rather than on structures and bureaucracy and which maximises the opportunities for a ‘Once for Scotland’ where that creates efficiencies and reduces duplication.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-01336 on 29 July 2016. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-01336 on 29 July 2016. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx

<>The Social Care (Self-directed Support) Act 2013 is founded on the principles of dignity, empowerment and collaboration. It places firm duties on local authorities to offer a range of options for how social care support is delivered and to give individuals the support and information required to enable them to make informed choices. This includes the option of a direct payment. The statutory guidance that accompanies the Act states all options must be described in full.

Under the Direct Payment Regulations 2014 the only circumstance where the authority is not permitted to offer a direct payment is in relation to the provision of long-term residential or nursing care to persons of any age.

The local authority can use a ‘duty of care’ discretion whereby they are not required to offer the option of a direct payment where it is likely that the making of a direct payment will put the safety of the supported person at risk.

The Social Care (Self-directed Support) Act 2013 is founded on the principles of dignity, empowerment and collaboration. It places firm duties on local authorities to offer a range of options for how social care support is delivered and to give individuals the support and information required to enable them to make informed choices.

Since 2011 the Scottish Government has invested £28.5 million in local authorities to support system and culture change, with a further £3.52 million committed for the financial year 2016-17. We continue to work with local authorities directly and through COSLA to support them to implement self-directed support in line with the legislation and in the spirit of the guidance.

The Social Care (Self-directed Support) Act 2013 is founded on the principles of dignity, empowerment and collaboration. It places firm duties on local authorities to offer a range of options for how social care support is delivered and to give individuals the support and information required to enable them to make informed choices.

The statutory guidance accompanying the Act 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.

<>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.

Forth Crossing Bridge Constructor's (FCBC) workforce, which comprises direct employees, agency staff and subcontracted staff, fluctuates in order to meet the demands of the project. FCBC estimate that since the beginning of 2016 their overall workforce has increased by up to 100 beyond the numbers anticipated.

FCBC working hours are subject to change and can vary across the site in order to meet the demands of the project. These are subject to continuous review throughout the project and FCBC estimate that since the beginning of 2016 the overall hours worked has increased compared to the overall hours anticipated to be worked in this period.

The Forth Crossing Bridge Constructor risk register and Transport Scotland risk register for the Forth Replacement Crossing Project will not be placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe) because disclosure of this particular information would, or would be likely to, prejudice substantially the commercial management of an on-going contract between Scottish Ministers and Forth Crossing Bridge Constructors.