A letter was issued to Local Authority Director's of Social Work and Chief Social Work Officers on 26 May 2009 seeking their formal views on draft guidance for a national framework for eligibility criteria for adult social care services and standard waiting times for free personal and nursing care. Comments on the draft guidance were requested by Friday 17 July 2009.
The draft guidance arises from joint work by the Scottish Government, Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, the Association of Directors of Social Work and other relevant organisations to improve the clarity, presentation and implementation of the free personal and nursing care policy; including taking forward recommendations arising from Lord Sutherland's Independent Review of Free Personal and Nursing Care Funding, published in April 2008.
A total of 43 responses to the consultation were received. This included 28 from local authorities, 7 from client interest groups, 4 from health boards, 3 from care provider groups and a response from the Association of Directors of Social Work.
Consideration has been given to the consultation responses and it has been decided that the National guidance will apply to older people to reflect the original political agreement between Council Leaders and Scottish Ministers on Lord Sutherland's recommendations about Free Personal and Nursing Care. Further details can be found in the attached letter to Directors of Social Work and Chief Social Work Officers issued on 28 September 2009 along with the final guidance.
The above Guidance advised that additional guidance on monitoring and reporting arrangements for the operation of eligibility criteria and standard delivery timescales would issue separately. A letter was issued to local authorities on 20 October along with a consultation paper. Comments are requested by 6 November 2009.