Call to get involved in designing the National Care Service
As the Scottish Government progresses with plans to develop the new National Care Service, they are inviting individuals and organisations to get involved and help design the service.
Announcing the opening of applications to a new Lived Experience Expert Panel, and a Stakeholder Register for organisations, they said: “We want to have a National Care Service that best fits the needs of everyone in Scotland. To do that, we need to hear from people directly. This is what co-design means – working alongside the people who use and deliver health and social care services, and the organisations which represent them, to ensure we get a future organisation that works for everyone.”
The Lived Experience Expert Panel is open to people aged over 18 who have experience of using or providing social care support in Scotland. They will help to design the National Care Service by taking part in research and design activities. Among the first priorities to be discussed are:
- information sharing to improve health and social care support
- realising rights and recognising responsibilities
- keeping health and social care support local
- making sure my voice is heard
- valuing the workforce
Meanwhile, organisations working in health and social are also invited to join the Stakeholder Register, to be involved in future consultation. The Scottish Government said: “We have already been working with lots of organisations on the development of the National Care Service up to now, but we still want to hear from both existing partners and new ones.”
Applications for both the Lived Experience Expert Panel, and the Stakeholder Register, are made online, and there is a free helpline for anyone who needs support to apply.
To find out more, including information in alternative formats, and the links to apply online, visit the Scottish Government website: https://www.gov.scot/publications/design-the-national-care-service/