Care homes – new support arrangements: advice note

Overview

Enhanced clinical and care oversight arrangements for care homes were put in place early on in the pandemic to support care home staff to keep residents safe. This followed a request from the then Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport for multi-disciplinary teams, comprising key clinical and care leads from NHS Boards and local authorities, to provide additional whole system support to protect residents and staff. There has been considerable learning and examples of excellent partnership working during this time. Using this learning, a Short Life Working Group (SLWG) comprising a range of stakeholders across the sector reviewed the arrangements.  

Based on the findings of the review to date and, taking account of the current pressures facing the sector, this advice note sets out recommendations, informed by the SLWG, for new arrangements for providing continuing enhanced support to adult and older people’s care homes in Scotland.

Many areas have already evolved their arrangements, in collaboration with care homes, to focus on improvement, sustainability and viability, taking into account the learning and experience of the pandemic and the strong, positive relationships built between local partners and care home staff, residents and families. The outstanding contribution and skills of so many care home staff and the teams that support them during the pandemic is recognised. Currently care homes, along with other parts of the health and social care system, are operating within an increasingly complex and pressurised environment. Their value and ongoing success is critical to the future sustainability of locally based health and social care provision.

The intention of this advice note is not to supersede existing arrangements, but to provide guiding principles and a framework for collaborative improvement to strengthen any locally developed approach whilst ensuring a level of consistency across the country.