Why New Scrutiny Bodies for Health and Social 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. The main benefits of the new arrangements are:
- Having fewer bodies will be easier for everyone, particularly the public, to understand.
- The changes will reduce the amount of scrutiny for service organisations while still ensuring they are scrutinised appropriately.
- Service providers will have more time to concentrate on improving services and delivering better outcomes for people who use services.
- Fewer bodies means there should be less bureaucracy and so better value for money.
- Verified self-evaluation by service providers will be further developed where appropriate and help to streamline the amount of external scrutiny on service providers.
- Multi-agency inspections require closer and more effective joint working by the improvement and scrutiny bodies. The new bodies will have new legal powers to allow them to carry these out more effectively.
Mental Welfare Commission Scotland (MWCS)
The initial announcement in November 2008 indicated the work of MWCS would become part of the new healthcare body. Since then concerns have been expressed by mental health stakeholders about the potential for the loss of independence of the Commission, whether it carries out the functions of an improvement and scrutiny body and about the lack of consultation with stakeholders prior to the announcement.
Ministers decided in February 2009 that they would step back at that time from taking the MWCS' functions into either the new healthcare or the new social care and social work body. Following that decision the Scottish Government's Mental Health Division has been working closely with the Commission and mental welfare stakeholders looking at how best to take the body forward within the public sector simplification programme. It is anticipated that proposals will be available in the Summer.