This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Scots to benefit from new standards for day care, respite and adoption services
31/07/2001
- better meals, informed choice, advocacy and support -
New draft care standards which aim to improve the qualify of life of Scotland's children and adults are being issued for consultation today by the Scottish Executive.
The draft standards, covering day and respite care, supported accommodation, and adoption/fostering services, were drawn up by service users, carers and care providers on the independent National Care Standards Committee. Among other things, they aim to create national standards for food and nutrition, privacy, advocacy and support services.
Deputy Minister for Health and Community Care, Malcolm Chisholm said:
"These new draft standards will ensure that adults in supported accommodation, or those using respite, day care and nursing agency services, receive the quality of care which they need and deserve.
"They are 'common sense' standards which will make a real difference to the day to day lives of service users, their carers, families and friends. They will aim to ensure that the experience of those people using these services is a positive one and that opportunities exist to help them lead as full a life as possible.
"Key aspects include new standards on health and nutrition, which clearly state that people should have a good, varied diet in both meals and snacks - and that special dietary or religious requirements should be taken into account. Other standards focus on help for new service users - involving them in developing their own 'life plan' as a way of recording assessed
needs and demonstrating how these will be met, and enabling service users and their families to make trial visits so that they can meet staff to discuss any particular needs or concerns."
For children and young people, the draft care standards cover adoption agency services, foster care, care and welfare for residential pupils and short breaks/respite care.
Deputy Education Minister Nicol Stephen said:
"These new standards will guarantee that regardless of where Scotland's children and young people receive their care, their needs and wishes will be fully taken into account.
"If they have special communication needs - these will be met - either through access to other services, or through communication aids or equipment. If the time is right to move on, they will equally be helped to make that transition.
"And crucially, where service users, their representatives or their families believe their needs are not being met - further new standards relating to comments, complaints and advocacy will ensure that that the necessary steps can and will be taken to address these concerns."
BACKGROUND
1. The National Care Standards Committee has more than 50 members including service users, carers, providers and professionals covering a wide range of interests. It is an independent group which is charged with drawing up and consulting on, all draft care standards in relation to the Regulation of Care (Scotland) Act, will come into force in April 2002.
2. For adults the draft standards being launched today will cover - placement services, criminal justice supported accommodation, day care, nurse agency services, and short breaks and respite care services. For children and young people, they will cover adoption agency services, foster care agency services, care and welfare for residential pupils, and short break/respite care services.
News Release: SE1795/2001
31 Jul 2001