Review recommends wider regulation of social care staff to better protect people

An independent review is recommending wider regulation of social care staff to better protect and help people receiving social care and support.

Chair Dame Sue Bruce was commissioned by Ministers to build on previous reports looking at various aspects of adult social care along five themes: A person centred approach; What needs to be inspected, scrutinised, and regulated; How should inspection, scrutiny, and regulation be carried out; How we will know systems are working; How will systems of inspection, scrutiny, and regulation support the workforce.

The Review makes 38 recommendations including updating legislation and standards but also highlights the need for the system to rebalance, increasing the focus on continuous improvement and being more inclusive of the voices of those who receive social care support.

Maree Todd, Social Care Minister, thanked Dame Sue Bruce and her team for the “incredibly thorough report.”

“[The report] identifies where there are gaps in our regulatory system and sets out how we can close them to ensure people get the support they need. We know that social care has faced many challenges in recent years – with energy and wage costs increasing, Brexit affecting recruitment and retention and huge efforts to protect some of our most vulnerable from the Covid pandemic.

“Over the summer, as part of our work to develop a National Care Service, I met with people who receive care, their loved ones, and those who work in the sector , so I too have seen the desire for meaningful change to address the challenges. This Review will be vital in helping us deliver the social care support services people deserve and also support the incredible workforce and I will give it my full consideration before updating parliament on our next steps.”

Dame Sue Bruce, who chaired the Review, said “the appetite for engagement and change” in the area has been “striking”.

“There is a palpable sense that the Review provides a real opportunity to take our recommendations and make the difference that people delivering support and being supported across the sector are looking for.

“I would like to thank all those who contributed, people have been extremely generous with their time and their views. I would also like to thank the Vice Chair, Stuart Currie, whose knowledge, experience and commitment has been extremely valuable throughout.”