National Care Service (Scotland) Bill (Stage 2) - AHSCP Response

Background

The Scottish Government introduced the National Care Service (Scotland) Bill in the Scottish Parliament on 20 June 2022. 

The Parliament’s Health, Social Care and Sport Committee published its Stage 1 report on the general principles of the Bill on 22 February 2024. On 29 February 2024, the Parliament voted to approve the general principles of the Bill at Stage 1.

During the course of its Stage 1 scrutiny of the Bill, the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee received notification of the Scottish Government’s intention to propose amendments to the Bill at Stage 2. The amendments were to reflect a consensus agreement it had reached with COSLA on a model of shared legal accountability for governance of the proposed National Care Service.

On 24 June 2024, the Committee received the following package of documents from the Scottish Government:

National Care Service (Scotland) Bill - draft Stage 2 amendments | Scottish Parliament Website

Read an overview of the Scottish Government's documents from the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe)

Purpose of the call for written evidence 

The Committee is now issuing a call for written evidence to hear your views about the draft amendments the Scottish Government is proposing to make to the Bill as introduced at Stage 2. 

In her covering letter, the Minister states: 

“Through our proposed Stage 2 amendments, the main changes to the Bill will be as follows: 

• “The creation of a National Care Service Board. The National Care Service Board (NCSB) is intended to provide national oversight and improvement of social work services, social care support and community health services which fall within the scope of the National Care Service. It would prioritise the actions that will make the most difference to outcomes for people: clear and consistent national standards, performance against those and accountability for delivery. 
• “Greater consistency of local planning and delivery of reformed integration authorities rather than Care Boards. This will support implementation of NCS priorities by building on existing structures and good practice.”