Written Question · S4W-08816 · Session 4
How the pathway of care provision for older people that is provided by (a) GPs, (b) the NHS, (c) social work departments and (d) (i) integr…
The question
To ask the Scottish Government how the pathway of care provision for older people that is provided by (a) GPs, (b) the NHS, (c) social work departments and (d) (i) integrated and (ii) individual care providers is inspected.
The answer
Integrated working between health and social care scrutiny bodies is important in assuring the quality of care, including that of older people. This joined up working will continue to be important as we move towards the integration of health and social care.
The Public Services Reform (Scotland) Act 2010 provides for a range of powers to enable multi-agency and joint inspections to take place and the Care Inspectorate, Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) and other scrutiny bodies have a duty to co-operate and co-ordinate their activity to improve the scrutiny of health and social care services.
(a) GPs
Health boards are required to ensure that care provided to older people by GPs is consistent with their contractual requirements and the General Medical Council’s Good Medical Practice. Under the Quality and Outcomes Framework or enhanced services elements of the GP contract, boards may also have specific pathways identified detailing care of the elderly, and these would be monitored as part of the contract review process.
(b) NHS
HIS is responsible for supporting, ensuring and monitoring the quality of NHS care, including that of older people. HIS is required by law to prepare an inspection plan which is approved by Scottish ministers. The 2012-13 plan focuses on a range of areas including, the Healthcare Environment Inspectorate, assuring the Care of Older People in Acute Hospitals, independent Healthcare Regulation, Scrutiny of Children’s Services and Inspections of Healthcare in Prisons. The plan will include both announced and unannounced inspections.
(c) Social Work departments
The Care Inspectorate ensures that the social work component of all regulated care services, including home care for older people, is inspected in two ways: at local authority level as part of the wider scrutiny of local authority services and at individual registered care service level to inspect the quality of care delivered by individual service providers, including local authorities.
(d) (i) Integrated
On 8 May 2012 I launched a consultation (http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2012/05/6469) on proposals for integration of adult health and social care.
The Scottish Government recognises that effective collaborative working with external scrutiny partners will be important, and will work with the Care Inspectorate, HIS and the Mental Welfare Commission to ensure an appropriately integrated approach to reviewing the quality of service and outcomes is achieved.
(d) (ii) Individual Care Providers
The Care Inspectorate undertakes annual unannounced inspections of certain services for the elderly, including home care. The Care Inspectorate inspects the quality of the care services provided to individuals, including whether the package of care agreed with the social work care manager and recorded in the single shared assessment is indeed being delivered and regularly reviewed and whether it results in positive outcomes for individual service users. The inspection process also includes consulting with individuals in receipt of the care service, their carers and relatives and other professionals such as GPs to seek wider views about the quality of service being offered.
The Public Services Reform (Scotland) Act 2010 provides for a range of powers to enable multi-agency and joint inspections to take place and the Care Inspectorate, Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) and other scrutiny bodies have a duty to co-operate and co-ordinate their activity to improve the scrutiny of health and social care services.
(a) GPs
Health boards are required to ensure that care provided to older people by GPs is consistent with their contractual requirements and the General Medical Council’s Good Medical Practice. Under the Quality and Outcomes Framework or enhanced services elements of the GP contract, boards may also have specific pathways identified detailing care of the elderly, and these would be monitored as part of the contract review process.
(b) NHS
HIS is responsible for supporting, ensuring and monitoring the quality of NHS care, including that of older people. HIS is required by law to prepare an inspection plan which is approved by Scottish ministers. The 2012-13 plan focuses on a range of areas including, the Healthcare Environment Inspectorate, assuring the Care of Older People in Acute Hospitals, independent Healthcare Regulation, Scrutiny of Children’s Services and Inspections of Healthcare in Prisons. The plan will include both announced and unannounced inspections.
(c) Social Work departments
The Care Inspectorate ensures that the social work component of all regulated care services, including home care for older people, is inspected in two ways: at local authority level as part of the wider scrutiny of local authority services and at individual registered care service level to inspect the quality of care delivered by individual service providers, including local authorities.
(d) (i) Integrated
On 8 May 2012 I launched a consultation (http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2012/05/6469) on proposals for integration of adult health and social care.
The Scottish Government recognises that effective collaborative working with external scrutiny partners will be important, and will work with the Care Inspectorate, HIS and the Mental Welfare Commission to ensure an appropriately integrated approach to reviewing the quality of service and outcomes is achieved.
(d) (ii) Individual Care Providers
The Care Inspectorate undertakes annual unannounced inspections of certain services for the elderly, including home care. The Care Inspectorate inspects the quality of the care services provided to individuals, including whether the package of care agreed with the social work care manager and recorded in the single shared assessment is indeed being delivered and regularly reviewed and whether it results in positive outcomes for individual service users. The inspection process also includes consulting with individuals in receipt of the care service, their carers and relatives and other professionals such as GPs to seek wider views about the quality of service being offered.
In the Official Report
No contribution in the Official Report cites S4W-08816 by reference.