A campaign to raise awareness of Scotland's
National Care Standards was launched today.
As well as a television advert, the campaign will feature a touring theatre
production which will visit day centres and care homes throughout Scotland.
Public Health Minister Shona Robison saw a preview of the Live Wire Theatre
Group production during a visit to Dundee's Oakland Centre today.
The �200,000 campaign is designed to highlight the importance of the
National Care Standards and get the message across about what they mean and
the benefits they bring.
Care standards set out what people can expect from each type of care service
- from support with independent living through to care homes for the
elderly.
Ms Robison said:
"Choosing the right care provider - whether you're looking for a nursery or
residential care for an elderly relative - is crucial.
"That's why we have the National Care Standards which are designed to ensure
people receive the same quality of care no matter where they live. They also
set out what people are entitled to expect, for instance their rights to
privacy.
"The standards also play a critical role in the inspection process as they
are used by the Care Commission to monitor and drive up the quality of care
across Scotland.
"To support this, we will also shortly implement National Minimum
Information Standards For All Adults In Scotland. These are to give health,
social work and housing professionals a consistent framework for identifying
people's needs and preparing care plans.
"Today's campaign aims to raise awareness of the standards amongst the
people who matter - those people who need to be cared for either now or in
the future - and I'm sure that the TV advert, coupled with the innovative
theatre production, will help to do just that."
Professor Frank Clark, Convener of the Care Commission, said:
"As regulator and inspector of Scotland's 15,000 care services, the
standards provide the shade card against which we measure the quality of the
care being provided.
"Not everyone realises that the National Care Standards are relevant to
them. Yet they cover the services provided by, for example, childminders,
day and after-school care for children, care homes and personal care
delivered in the home.
"We urge people who use these services, their families and carers to become
familiar with the standard of care they can and should expect."
There are 23 sets of standards, covering a wide range of services including
care homes for older people, day care services and respite care services.
Adults receiving a care service can expect to have a care plan that sets out
their individual support and care needs and personal preferences. |