Social Care and National Care Service Development

What we do

The Social Care and National Care Service Development Directorate leads on social care policy, with a focus on supporting people to lead independent lives in their own communities. We also lead on the development and creation of a National Care Service, which is a cross-government priority. We aim to transform our community health and social care support and services, empowering people to thrive, with human rights at the core. This is aligned with the commitments set out in the Programme for Government and contributing towards national outcomes within the National Performance Framework.

We are responsible for:

the design and creation of a National Care Service
adult social care workforce – pay, planning and development, recruitment, leadership, skills and training
adult social care policy – care at home, unpaid carers, care home charging policy, assisted communications and the Preventative and Proactive Care programme
delivery for the social care sector in key areas such as Covid testing, vaccination and practice guidance to care homes
sponsorship of the Care Inspectorate and the Independent Living Fund Scotland
sustainability payments
supporting the integration of health and social care services across Scotland
ensuring the data and digital needs of the National Care Service are met
social care resilience and pressures