Decisions around day services reopening should be made locally and ensure appropriate levels of support are given to service users, Scotland’s health secretary has said.

Jeane Freeman highlighted the importance of having services available to people in need of daytime support and their families and unpaid carers, saying it is vital for “resilience and wellbeing”.

In a letter, she has urged health and social care partnerships (HSCPs) to work together with providers to meet their needs.

Alternative arrangements should be considered for anyone who is unable to access support immediately, such as moving to a different self-directed support option.

New guidance on reopening of day services was issued at the end of August, after many were closed due to the pandemic.

However charity Camphill, which offers support for people with learning disabilities, subsequently warned a lack of clarity over funding and confusion over the guidance was hindering the ability of services to open their doors again.

In the letter to a number of bodies including local authorities, HSCPs, COSLA, and the Care Inspectorate, Ms Freeman said the guidance had highlighted the value of these services to those with support needs.

She said: “I would like to reiterate the importance to people who need daytime support and their families and unpaid carers of having appropriate levels of support available at the times they need it – for their resilience and wellbeing.

“This is particularly the case heading into the winter months, with so many day services having remained closed for a long period.

“It is therefore important for HSCPs to continue to work together with providers and the people who use their services to assess these continuing needs and meet them in the most appropriate way.”

Ms Freeman said risk assessments on reopening of services would need to be made balancing these needs with the requirement to keep people safe from covid-19.

She said the guidance had noted the need for decisions to be made locally and for each area to ensure there is good communication with providers and it is known who has responsibility for giving the go-ahead for services to reopen. 

She added: “The guidance also emphasises that, for those who are unable to access support immediately, alternative provision should be considered and discussed with them.

“For those eligible for social care support, this would include flexible use of their support plan to meet agreed outcomes, moving to a different Self-Directed Support Option.”

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