Seòmar agus comataidhean

Okay. Self-directed support and that different way of working will be about achieving outcomes for the individual and will be asset focused—I have heard that phrase quite a few times this morning. How do health and social care partnerships manage that against risk? I give the example of someone who has been assessed as requiring greater intervention but who wishes to have less of a service, if that makes sense.

That is helpful.

I am also interested in what provisions are in place for when individuals move between local authority areas.

David Aitken, East Dunbartonshire IJB seems to be quite far along on this journey. Do you have anything to share with the committee on how you make sure that communities know how to get the support that they need?

We cannot hear you. Sometimes, having folks online can be a bit like a bad séance. I will move on and we can come back.

At the beginning of the evidence session, you reflected that we are quite a long way down the road for integration, so I am trying to understand what has gone wrong. Services that had, historically, been delivered jointly were dissolved almost immediately when things were integrated. It will be helpful for the committee to understand whether such decisions are led by officers or by political leadership.

I will move on to talk a little about the processes that support individuals and how individuals access health and social care partnerships. How do you ensure that your communities know how to access care and support? Also, importantly, how do you help them understand that self-directed support is the means by which their care and support will be arranged? David, you have nodded, so I will come to you first.

Yes.

Does anyone else want to respond to any of those points?

I have one final question, if I may.

In some ways, Dr Conlon’s responses have drawn out what I was going to ask about with regard to opportunities and positive things that can come from that sort of involvement. I appreciate the caution or worry that has been expressed, but there are opportunities for students and for our country in the entrepreneurial work that is going on.

Good morning, panel, and thank you for your contribution so far. I will ask about student numbers, funding places and international students. Mary Senior, I come to you first. What would UCU like the SFC to consider in its review of teaching funding that Scottish ministers have recently announced?