News: Independent Sector Reshaping Care National Lead Post

10th April 2012

Independent Sector Reshaping Care National Lead Post

Scottish Care has been working to support provider engagement with the Reshaping Care programme and the Change Fund at both a national and local level. Our overarching aim is to ensure that the independent sector is recognised as a full partner at both national strategic policy level and at a local level, engaged fully across the change fund plans, future joint commissioning strategies, health and social care integration and other key policy drivers such as self-directed support. We also see a key role maximising the contribution the independent sector will make to the longer term sustainability of health and social care in Scotland.

The Change Fund remains central to the Government’s programme on Reshaping Care for Older People. In the coming year the 32 Local Partnerships have to commence production of Joint Commissioning plans for future care provision in their area, against the back drop of Self-Directed Support, Health and Social Care Integration and the 10 year Reshaping Care agenda. It is hugely important that the independent sector are fully informed, represented and involved.

In an increasing number of the local partnerships have now allocated funding for Development Work with Independent Sector providers, hosted by Scottish Care and we expect others to follow. Scottish Government through the Joint Improvement Team has provided the funding to establish this Independent Sector Reshaping Care Lead Role at a national level to ensure more effective coordination, liaison and support going forward.

Scottish Care and the JIT are pleased to advise that Gloria McLoughlin has agreed to take on this work initially for a 12 month period as a deployment from her role as Depute CEO with Scottish Care. This commits the sector and Scottish Care at a very senior level and allows us to build on the groundwork undertaken to date. Gloria will retain active engagement around funding, self-directed support and commissioning. Over the next period Gloria will be contacting partnerships; in the interim you can contact her at gloria.mcloughlin@scottishcare.org or on 07894687065. The JIT have also committed additional resource to this initiative and Gloria is delighted that she will be working in partnership with Joan Mitchell, JIT Action Group Member, Joan can be contacted at joanjohnmitchell@btinternet.com

I am confident that this arrangement will maximise independent sector effectiveness at both a national and local level, along with increased opportunity for engagement and raised visibility for the wider independent sector.

Ranald Mair Margaret Whoriskey