Introduction
In December 2003, the Which? Consumer group submitted an informal super-complaint to the Office of Fair Trading on the UK Care Home Sector, focusing on care home fees, clarity of contracts and state of information channels. The OFT undertook a market study and published a report - Care Homes for Older People in the UK - in May 2005 (OFT 780) available in the publications section of the Office of Fair Trading web site. The OFT research highlighted the need for ready access to clear and relevant information to help people make decisions about the right care for them at a particularly difficult and stressful time in their lives. The OFT discovered that information was often difficult to access and there were information gaps and a lack of clarity and recommended that:
The government should establish a central information source or "One Stop Shop" for people to get information about care for older people. This could, for example, be an internet site supplemented by a telephone helpline or a One Stop Shop with information about care for older people.
The Scottish Government accepted the recommendation and agreed to work with existing providers to develop a central information source. A Steering Group has been set up and includes representatives from:
Association of Directors of Social Work
Care Commission
Community Care Providers Scotland
Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and
Scottish Care
The group's remit and objectives are:
Aim
To bring together key partners to work with the Scottish Government in developing and taking forward the recommendation made by the Office of Fair Trading (see above).
Objectives
- Contribute to the development of the feasibility study.
- Consider the range of options for delivering the service set out in the feasibility study and advise the Scottish Government on the most appropriate option.
- Contribute to the development by consultants of the high level requirements for the service and related tender documents.
- Advise the Scottish Government on the appropriate tender evaluation criteria to be used in assessing the bids.
The requirements specification is currently being developed.