Research to evaluate the operation and impact of Free Personal Care
The Government undertook to develop a working strategy to evaluate the operation and impact of the free personal and nursing care policy since its introduction in July 2002. It looked at information on the range of services being provided, their quality, costs and what difference the policy has made to people's lives.
Implementation of the strategy was overseen by a Reference Group which considered the implications of the findings. The group was comprised of representatives from the Government, Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, Association of Social Work Directors, Age Concern, Alzheimer Scotland, Community Care Providers Scotland, and Social Work Inspection Agency.
The overarching aims of the strategy were to:
- evaluate the implementation, operation and impact of Free Personal Care
- identify and disseminate good practice in the operation of the policy
- consider any implications for the further development of policy and practice within the wider policy context, reflecting both the care home and care at home sectors
The strategy proposed that a range of research be undertaken and commissioned to evaluate the policy in two phases. These have now been completed and published and can be found at:
Minutes of Reference Group meetings are made available in line with the Scottish Government Publication Scheme. There is a commitment to publish research findings and a dissemination strategy is being developed in liaison with the Reference Group and the Scottish Government Health Department.
The research specification also gives a more detailed look at the aims and objectives of this work.