National accountability, investment and transparency over both funding and the Scottish government’s plans for reform are needed at what is a ‘critical time’ for social care, according to a new paper produced by six health and social care organisations.

The paper from the ALLIANCE, Coalition of Carers, Coalition of Care and Support Providers Scotland (CCPS), Glasgow Disability Alliance (GDA), Inclusion Scotland and Scottish Care is calling for both structural and cultural reform so Scotland can have sustainable social care services that are ‘fit for purpose’ long-term.

In the paper, they argue that the government’s plans since scrapping much of its National Care Service Bill are ‘insufficient to address the scale of the predicament’ facing social care.

Expressing disappointment at the ‘jettisoning’ of much of the original Bill after the government failed to reach consensus with key partners, the organisations involved in its development have set their priorities for moving forward.

They want clarity of purpose, effective oversight and accountability, ethical commissioning and procurement of social care services, and greater investment in social care.

While recognising that delivering the whole-system change required will extend beyond this parliament, organisations call in the paper for action to deliver reforms to begin now:

‘The last four years demonstrate that significant cross-party support, collective institutional effort and meaningful stakeholder involvement will be essential to advance reform over the long term. The work to ensure this happens must start now.

‘System change is critical – the status quo is not an option.’

To deliver system change, however, the organisations say that the government must first start with culture change.

They add the original Bill was held back by a failure to detail a ‘coherent model’ for the changes needed, compounded by what they say was a lack of collaboration between COSLA and the government.

The paper emphasises that the government must define the clear purpose of the National Care Service – stating it requires a ‘robust’ set of underpinning principles to guide legislative change:

‘Ultimately the purpose of a National Care Service must surely be to enable individuals and families to realise their aspirations and thrive through a rights and relationship based and integrated publicly funded care and support system,’ the organisations state.

The paper also casts doubt on whether the National Care Service Advisory Board – which recently appointed an interim chair – can have ‘any genuine effect’ without a commitment from the government to act on its recommendations or to justify when they cannot do so.

It states that whatever the new board’s remit, the priorities outlined by these six organisations must be taken into account.

To achieve meaningful co-design and collaboration, the partners say new standards for social care must be informed by those with lived experience, leaders in the sector, and those working on the frontline.

Fair pay

While the six organisations say they recognise they are missing the ‘the direct voice of the workforce’, they say future delivery will rely on Fair Work and pay parity across social care.

The paper states that ‘investment in the social care workforce has been long overdue’ as is proper funding for carers breaks, urging the government to move beyond ‘piecemeal changes’:

‘The reform required to meet need and respect, protect and fulfil people’s rights to independent living and provide access to timely, acceptable and quality social care support, cannot be delivered through piecemeal changes.

‘Similarly, any new right to breaks for carers can only fulfil its potential with the necessary investment, resourcing, commitment and leadership to develop a sustainable short break sector that can meet the diverse needs and circumstances of all carers.’

Alongside improving social care pay, the paper calls on the government to ensure a ‘level playing field’ between statutory, third sector and independent social care providers in decisions about public funds.

Moving forward, the organisations call for more institutional change to deliver transparency over the funding for social care – saying ministers must consider publishing the full budget for care reforms.

Read more: Carers charities urge greater transparency in reforms; Carers are on their knees; Racism driving social workers to consider leaving; Chair for government care advisory board; Social work leaders welcome new care reform plans; Playing politics while social care support burns; UK care plans chance to learn from Scotland