National Care Service

The proposed establishment of a National Care Service is the most significant piece of public sector reform in Scotland since devolution and goes to the heart of what our CCPS members do every day.  Our most recent contributions to the debate on change can be found on this page.

Much of the current national focus of reform is on the National Care Service (Scotland) Bill, but the change we want to see goes far beyond this. CCPS’ vision for the reform of social care and support in Scotland is that: Individuals and families are enabled to realise their aspirations and thrive through a rights- and relationship-based integrated public care and support system that is designed collaboratively, delivered locally and accessible equitably to everyone who needs it.

CCPS has gathered together everything it has said over recent months and created a model for social care and support reform which will guide all of our work to influence and shape the future.  We hope that members, partners, the Scottish Government and MSPs will find this a helpful summary of our aspirations as the debates on a National Care Service continue.

A timeline on the National Care Service and CCPS responses – so far..

July 2023: CCPS publishes a response from CEO, Rachel Cackett, to the announcement made by The Scottish Government regarding the accountability agreement made with CoSLA and the NHS on the National care Service.

November 2022: CCPS publishes a discussion paper on potential amendments to the legislation. The paper makes clear that the Bill falls short of supporting delivery of our model of reform, but sets out some initial ideas for wider discussion on how it might be amended to get it closer to our aspirations.  CCPS has already begun holding meetings to discuss the paper and we will continue to do so over the start of 2023. Further comments welcomed @ccpscotland.

September 2022: CCPS submits evidence to the Scottish Goverment Health, Social Care and Sport Committee and the Finance Committee, setting out our initial position on the legislation, noting that we remain open to working collaboratively and constructively with the Scottish Government and partners on reform, but noting concerns with the direction set out in the Bill.

August 2022: The Fraser of Allander Institute, funded by CCPS, publishes a detailed briefing on the financial implications of the National Care Service Bill. We note that: “The Bill in its current form raises significant questions which remain to be answered about the affordability of a National Care Service and the investment required to sustain it in the long term.”

June 2022: The National Care Service (Scotland) Bill is introduced to the Scottish Parliament and CCPS provides initial comment, calling for “a system and structure for social care and support based on respect, partnership and collaboration”

November 2021: CCPS responds to the consultation on a National Care Service noting that “the ambition set out by the [Feeley Review] team is not wholly reflected in the proposals”.

August 2021: CCPS welcomes the launch of the Scottish Government consultation on a National Care Service.

February 2021: The Independent Review of Adult Social Care in Scotland (“The Feeley Review”) is published.  CCPS welcomes the Review and “its call for a renewed purpose for social care with human rights at its heart”. The Scottish Government accepts the findings of the Feeley Review

September 2020: The Scottish Government commissions former NHS Scotland CEO, Derek Feeley, to conduct an Independent Review of Adult Social Care in Scotland.  CCPS submits its response in November, setting out how we think the sector can be reset.