Review of care service definitions: challenges and recommendations

2. Introduction

Iriss conducted a research study during May and June 2021 to provide the Scottish Government with evidence about how the care services definitions reflect the current and future needs, demands and delivery of health and social care provision in Scotland.

This section outlines the aims, objectives and key research questions of the study.

2.1 Aims

This research aimed to inform the review of the definitions and provide a steering group led by the Scottish Government with timely, robust information about:

• Issues with the current definitions and categorisation of care services and social service workers;
• An assessment of the risks involved in making changes or continuing with status quo;
• Any equalities implications of suggested changes.

2.2 Objectives and research questions

In order to meet the aims, the specific objectives of the project were:

• The clear identification (from analysis of relevant policy and legislation, and stakeholder interview data) of how the definitions reflect, or do not reflect, the current and future needs, demands and delivery of health and social care in Scotland;
• To identify, develop, and assess options for new/amended definitions for the Scottish Government to consider. Proposed options should consider potential implications for: legislation and guidance; regulatory bodies; people who use support services; carers; service providers; and workers.

The key research questions were:

• How do the current definitions of care services and roles (section 47 and schedule 12 of the Public Services Reform Act (Scotland) 2010 Act) and the Regulation of Care (Scotland) Act 2001 reflect the current and future needs, demands, and delivery of health and social care provision in Scotland?
• What changes to the definitions are required 'to enable social care support services and workers to be more flexible and responsive to people's needs, to work more autonomously, and to work with others across professions'^[1]?
• What would be the implications of any change to definitions for: legislation and guidance; regulatory bodies; people who use support services; carers; service providers; and workers? For example: registration, inspection and scrutiny of services; operational resilience for regulatory bodies; quality of care and personal outcomes; commissioning and procurement of good quality service provision; workforce conditions.