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Earlier this week, I had a meeting with Alison Bavidge about social work within the NCS bill, and she usefully described social workers as the GPs of social care. I am interested in hearing your thoughts on how we ensure through the bill that social work, rather than continuing to deliver small things, gets back to the holistic cross-wellbeing view that social workers would like to see—a restoration of the profession, if you like.

Obviously, social work is an area that is heavily based on legislation, and the bill is another piece of legislation to add to the spectrum. I would like to hear your thoughts on how we ensure that we get back to a cross-issue view, rather than delivering pieces of justice, and how we do investigative work and other things in looking at the whole wellbeing piece.

I appreciate the work that is being done at joint ministerial working group level and all that sort of thing, but what work is being done at COSLA level to make sure that good terms and conditions exist? One thing that is being looked at in the creation of the national care service is making terms and conditions consistent across the country. What is being done in relation to the services that are delivered by local authorities to ensure that terms and conditions and working conditions are consistent across the country? Also, what is being done where services are contracted out by councils? The variations are wild, in some places.

In its written submission, the Faculty of Advocates raises concerns about use of the word “sufficient” in relation to carers’ breaks. How can that wording be strengthened? Does the faculty have a view on what mechanism would be most appropriate to determine what qualifies as “sufficient”?

Good morning. What are your views on how we can ensure that carers are consulted on whether the breaks that they receive are sufficient, and should a mechanism to support that be included in the bill?

If there is anything specific going on in councils, it would be really useful for the committee to hear about that.

Thanks, convener. I apologise to everyone; I have to go to the Parliamentary Bureau in a couple of minutes.

My question is particularly for Councillor Kelly. You referenced geographical variation around delivery, but there is also geographical variation around terms and conditions and working conditions for staff. How would you like that to be strengthened in the bill?

I appreciate that. Some of this is absolutely about resource but, as you referenced earlier, it is also about culture, which does not always need pounds behind it. What is being done by COSLA to improve the culture in which people work?

What actions should the Government take to address the urgent challenges presented by the workforce demographics, with the workforce comprising predominantly older women who have caring responsibilities of their own?

In the interest of time, I will combine my questions and ask anyone who contributes an answer to that question to also cover what they believe needs to be done to ensure that those who do caring as a career are given parity with NHS colleagues.

David Torrance said it first, to be fair to him.

Good morning to the panel. What factors need to be considered in addressing demographic changes? We have not only an ageing population but a large population living to very old age. As we heard from Dr Connon, there is the potential for people to be unpaid carers for multiple generations or for people to be carers into old age. We also have a declining birth rate. I will go to Professor Hennessy on that.