Social care support reform: partnership programme framework

Programme vision

The programme vision describes what the system will look like to achieve the shared vision for adult social care support.

It has the same five sections as the shared vision.

• The way we value and understand social care support
• The way people access support
• The way people are supported
• Our systems, processes and decision-making
• Our support across Scotland

The way we value and understand social care support

• The public, and the system and policy makers, see social care support as an investment in Scotland's people, society and economy.
• Social care support is about both meeting needs and ensuring quality of life. This respects and protects people's human rights. 'Needs' incorporate a person's whole wellbeing, for example social, physical, mental.
• Social care support is a mix of formal and informal support.
• Public health messages promote strengths-based approaches and attitudes, self-management, and maintaining community connections for health and wellbeing.
• People planning for their future care and support needs is routine.
• The value of the people who work in social work and social care support is demonstrated through appropriate parity of opportunities, conditions and authority.
• Unpaid carers are regarded and supported as equal partners in care.
• Social care support is sufficiently resourced as part of the whole network of supports and services in Scotland. How social care support is paid for is appropriate and sustainable.

The way people access support

• Early intervention and prevention are embedded in cycles of planning and delivery. This looks at how all parts of someone's life have a role to play in them living well, or as well as possible, for as long as possible (for example, socialising and being connected with others, housing).
• People have access to support (formal/informal) before reaching crisis.
• Assessments are timely and happen at times and in places that are appropriate and helpful for people.
• Assessments are outcomes-focused and use best practice models.
• People are actively involved in processes that affect them and lead decision making about their care and support.
• People have access to appropriate information, advice and practical support to make decisions about their support. This includes creative support options. Information is clear and easy to understand. They are directed to this information, advice and support.
• People know the budget and resources available to them and can direct them creatively and flexibly.
• Care and support teams are made up of people from different professions and disciplines. They have the range and mix of expertise and skills needed to support people and carers when they are making decisions about their care. They are compassionate.
• All social care support is personalised.
• All social care budgets are personalised, no matter how they are managed.
• Alternative support routes are visible, valued, and people are able to access them.
• Professionals and practitioners work with the supported person, their strengths, and their networks to achieve the best possible care and support arrangements. This includes formal and informal supports and services.
• Where someone is supported by an unpaid carer, this includes asking for and taking into account the carer's views.
• People are trusted to know what is right for them.
• Care and support arrangements work for how the person wants to live their life and what they want to achieve.
• They also recognise carers' needs and everyone's right to family life.
• People's care and support needs are reviewed, and support arrangements change as the person's needs do.
• Support arrangements recognise that a person's capabilities might fluctuate, and adapt accordingly.
• People are supported when they change between different kinds of supports and services, or when they take on more responsibility for their social care support.
• People, their unpaid carers and families, or their other social friendships and connections, have access to the right practical training and tools to manage their social care support to the degree they have chosen.
• People with diverse backgrounds can understand and access the social care support system, and support that works for them.
• People experience respect and kindness at every stage in the journey - not only when they are receiving social care support. Carers and people working in the system also experience respect and kindness at every stage.

The way people are supported

• Social care support is outcome-focused.
• People experience best practice in social care support, no matter where in Scotland they are.
• There is a diverse range of formal and informal support options. They are flexible and creative.
• Support options are recognised and valued by how they support a person to do what is important to them.
• There are options which involve communities and community assets.
• Commissioning and procurement processes promote this diverse range of flexible and creative support options.
• Support options enable people to fulfil their right to participate in their community and society, to live life in the way they choose, and to achieve their goals.
• Care and support is appropriate for a person's needs, circumstances, and phase of life.
• People working in social work and social care support are adequately trusted, trained, resourced and autonomous to deliver self-directed approaches and support people in the right way. They feel and are empowered in their roles.
• Social care careers are well paid and secure.
• Care and support teams have the range and mix of professions, expertise and skills needed to deliver care and support that is right for a person. They are compassionate.
• Digital technology supports people to be contributing, active citizens and to live as independently as possible.
• Digital solutions are used proactively for prevention, care, and care planning and management.
• In general, care and support arrangements include a mixture of person-provided and technological solutions.

Our systems, processes and decision making

• We respect the dignity and contribution of all people getting information, advice, and care and support.
• Systems and processes are responsive and efficient.
• They are set up in a way that makes it as straightforward as possible to make changes to a person's support arrangements when their needs or circumstances change.
• National and local policies, systems, and processes are co-produced with people who use support, carers, wider communities, and people who work in social work and social care support.
• These people are involved in making decisions. This includes decisions about prioritisation and spending. Their voices and opinions are valued and taken seriously. This shows in the decisions that are made.
• Decision-making is based on data and evidence. This data and evidence reflects 'need' as holistic (including physical and social needs, for example) and considers the whole system and sustainability.
• Decision-making in local systems and processes is dispersed - particularly for decisions on budgets and spending. Frontline staff, or people working closest to the supported person, have sufficient autonomy and authority to do their job.
• Decisions taken at national level are realistic and practical for local delivery.
• Communities and supported people and carers shape the planning, commissioning and monitoring of support. Health and Social Care Partnership strategic commissioning plans are co-produced.
• Local and national systems, processes and decisions are transparent. This includes decisions on budgets and spending.
• People know what they can expect and how long it will take. Timescales are consistent and acceptable.
• Accountability is clear and acted on.
• There are independent and consistent processes, and advocacy, for appealing decisions or raising concerns, and to hold responsible bodies to account.
• The organisation and delivery of social care support is joined up with other supports and services. People organising and delivering social care support plan and work together with other professions, services and supports to achieve the best outcomes. For example, this means communities, community workers, mental health practitioners, GPs, nurses, hospitals, therapists, housing services, transport services, and others. It includes both formal and informal supports.
• The specific skills and knowledge of social care support and social work professionals are recognised, included and valued in multi-disciplinary teams.
• There is parity of esteem across organisations in the system and all are working to common outcomes and objectives.
• The relationship between public, independent and third sector health and social care organisations is trusting and collaborative.

Our support across Scotland

• People's needs are recognised equally wherever they are in Scotland. These needs are recorded.
• There is local flexibility but people's experiences are consistent nationally. People get the same quality and level of support across Scotland even if it is provided differently in different areas.
• Local and national systems and processes are set up in a way that makes moving to a different area of Scotland for a person who uses social care support as straightforward as possible.
• Data and evidence is used to optimise investment decisions and the quality and operation of services and models of support.
• Data and evidence is used to improve the coordination and integration of services and supports across the whole system.
• Best practice builds, maintains, and develops a sustainable social care support system.
• Infrastructure and relationships support the whole system of supports and services that social care support is one part of to adapt together to changing circumstances. This happens at both a local and national level.