Seòmar agus comataidhean

It has been suggested that reinforced provisions on commissioning and procurement would be an important way of giving practical effect to embedding fair work principles in the social care sector. I appreciate that there are complexities to that, and that you have said that work is on-going on it. However, what provisions would you like to see in the bill? Will you work with me and others ahead of stage 2 on amendments to embed some of those principles?

What opportunities are there for the bill to improve support and treatment for people who experience problematic drug or alcohol use, and what changes to it would the panel members like there to be, to ensure that those are realised?

Cathie Russell, how do we ensure that the process of co-design is ethical and sustainable for people to participate in? We are aware that a multitude of workstreams is on the go, and I am a bit concerned about how individuals and small organisations can continue to participate in co-design throughout the national care service’s implementation.

Further to Emma Harper’s question about reducing stigma, are there opportunities in the bill, beyond training, to reduce the stigma that surrounds problematic drug or alcohol use, in social care services?

Thanks, convener. I will come to Adam Stachura, in particular. Age Scotland’s “About Dementia” project submission highlighted a lack of trust between service users and carers and professionals working in social care, because they have been consulted on change for many years, with little result. How can that trust be rebuilt, and will the reforms that are proposed by the bill contribute positively to that building of trust?

Yes.

I will follow that up. How do we ensure that the complaints process is transparent and accessible for everyone? Clare Gallagher summed things up very well. Due to the number of different providers and where, when and through whom you can complain to those different providers, there is a complete spider’s web of issues, especially for service users whose first language is not English or who have other access issues. How can we ensure that any national-level process takes account of geographic variability and who the providers are, as well as access issues, to ensure that the complaints system is fit for purpose? How can we ensure that information about how to access and navigate through the process is well advertised, so that someone who does not want to take up independent advocacy or who does not have someone to advocate for them can still navigate it in their own way and in their own time?

That is great.

Dr Nolan, what are the key considerations for you in the development of a model complaints system for the proposed national care service? For the service users that you support, what do you see as the biggest barriers in a nationally structured model of complaints handling?

Thank you.

My first question is for Rhona Willder. Should a single organisation such as Citizens Advice Scotland be appointed to provide or co-ordinate the provision of advocacy, or do you see that happening in a different way under the bill?