Why new scrutiny bodies for health and care?
The Crerar Review concluded that the scrutiny landscape in Scotland is unnecessarily complex and too difficult for the public and service providers to understand. Scrutiny is defined as both an inspection and improvement agenda: as a way of improving the quality of services. Government, service providers and the public all want a more simplified approach.
What are the changes?
Ministers announced on November 6, 2008 that there will be two new improvement and scrutiny organisations from April 2011 - a single body for healthcare services and another body for social work and social care services, including child protection and the integration of children's services. The new bodies will take on work in these areas currently done by:
- Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Education (HMIE)
- NHS Quality Improvement Scotland (NHS QIS)
- Social Work Inspection Agency (SWIA)
- The Care Commission
With the exception of independent healthcare regulation, all of SWIA's and the Care Commission's work will be carried out by the new social work and social care services body, Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland (SCSWIS). HMIE's current work leading on the inspection of services to protect children and developing a model of inspection for children's services will transfer to SCSWIS. The work of NHS QIS, plus the regulation of independent healthcare currently carried out by the Care Commission, will transfer to the new healthcare body, Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS).
What will the benefits be?
SCSWIS and HIS will be able to provide more streamlined and integrated scrutiny of social care, social work, child protection and health care services. The new bodies will provide public assurance on service quality, hold councils and service providers to account and target support for service improvement. The new bodies are an exciting opportunity which will, overtime, allow people who use services, their carers and the wider public to see and experience further significant improvement in the quality of services.