UNISON Scotland welcomes the recommendations from the Independent Review of Adult Social Care in Scotland (chaired by Derek Feeley) that was published today (Wednesday).
The review calls for the creation of a National Care Service which UNISON has been championing for many years. A National Care Service will build a resilient care system similar to the NHS, will improve the quality of care and prevent deaths.
UNISON welcomes the report’s recognition of the importance of collective bargaining and that it should be integral to improving the care system.
The review highlights the structural challenges in the social care sector that inhibit workers ability to collectively bargain for improved pay and conditions. Improved training, standards, pay and fair working conditions not only improves the quality of care but also supports investment in the economy.
The report is critical of the market-based approach to commissioning and cites UNISON’s Ethical Care Charter as a route to driving out profit motive and delivering Fair Work standards across the various types of care.
UNISON Scottish Secretary Mike Kirby said: “We welcome the support for a National Care Service, however, the challenge now moves to the Scottish Government to deliver.
“The report carefully reflects the workforce issues to be addressed if we are to have a quality, rights-based service, with universally-applied standards of Fair Work.
“For too long the care system has been weighted towards price and profit. A National Care Service, with the NHS as its inspiration, would make quality of care and Fair Work its focus.
“The report is rightly critical of the function of Integrated Joint Boards and we welcome recommendations for reform, with the Social Services Council, under the direction of a National Care Service Board, incorporating all parties, together with the proposed sector wide body addressing specific workforce issues.”
Frances Burns, a care worker and UNISON member, said: “Any reform must build on the few positives to come from the pandemic – that care staff are highly skilled people, providing quality care, despite the many challenges they face.
“Never again should there be vulnerable people dying in their thousands in care homes because of poor planning, ignorance, or the pursuit of profits. Fundamental reform to create a system fit for the future is not optional it is essential.”
Notes
UNISON Scotland is the largest social care trade union, representing 11,000 members in the sector.
You can download the full report here: https://www.unison-scotland.org/wp-content/uploads/Independent-Review-of-Adult-Social-Care-in-Scotland-03.02.21.pdf
A video produced by the review team can be found here
You can view UNISON Scotland’s report ‘Care After Covid’ which looks at the impact of the pandemic on social care here: https://www.unison-scotland.org/wp-content/uploads/Care-After-Covid.pdf
Further information
UNISON Scotland is the largest social care trade union, representing 11,000 members in the sector.
You can download the full report here: https://www.unison-scotland.org/wp-content/uploads/Independent-Review-of-Adult-Social-Care-in-Scotland-03.02.21.pdf
You can view UNISON Scotland’s report ‘Care After Covid’ which looks at the impact of the pandemic on social care here: https://www.unison-scotland.org/wp-content/uploads/Care-After-Covid.pdf
You can review UNISON Scotland Ethical Care Charter here: https://unison-scotland.org/wp-content/uploads/Final-Ethical-Care-Charter-PDF-1.pdf
Contacts
Danny Phillips, UNISON Scotland’s communications officer, 07944 664 110 (d.phillips@unison.co.uk)
Stephen Low, UNISON Scotland’s policy officer, 07956 852 822 (s.low2@unison.co.uk)