Chamber
Plenary, 07 Mar 2001
07 Mar 2001 · S1 · Plenary
Item of business
Regulation of Care (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1
No. I have just started my speech.
No one in any political party would disagree that we should safeguard vulnerable people. That means vulnerable people of all ages: children; young adults; middle-aged people; and older people. That is what the bill is about. It is not a bill about older people; it applies to people across the board.
No one would argue with the fact that we should raise the standards of practice; there is good practice in many areas, but it is patchy. As Shona Robison said, some services are not regulated at all.
I will talk about raising public confidence in the social services work force, which—believe me—is much maligned. If somebody who does not know a person asks that person what they do and is told that the person is a social worker, they take three steps back, give the person a peculiar look and usually do not speak to them again.
No one is interested in the thousands of people who are looked after daily in their own homes and in residential and day care settings by that service, but people are rightly concerned about bad practice. The media are right to draw our attention to the fact that sexual, physical and emotional abuse exists in homes for young children, young adults and older people—the bill goes some way towards changing that situation.
Shona Robison rightly pointed out that, until now, whistleblowing has been the most effective way of policing poor standards and bad practice. The courageous workers who report those conditions must be confident that they will be protected. As the proposed new council will oversee discipline of the most serious cases of misconduct, it is important that the council is as strong as the commission. In other words, those bodies should be seen as equals.
Training is an important element of the bill. Indeed, at some point, the Scottish Parliament needs to review the overall training of social workers. In the past, particularly in residential care, social workers were only as good as the people with whom they worked their shifts. If a new person worked their shifts with somebody who was confident and good at their job, that was how they usually continued. However, many care workers, especially in residential care, received no training at all.
The Local Government Committee is concerned that there should be appropriate levels of resourcing, training and recruiting, because the bill means that we will have to increase the number of staff. I believe sincerely that there is a need for designated training for registration and inspection staff.
I must confess that, while I was the chair of resources in Glasgow City Council, the training budget was constantly cut. I do not feel good about that, but it happened simply because training was not seen as providing a front-line service. Although that situation has changed in Glasgow and other places, it is important to ensure that the money for training is where it should be.
The Local Government Committee also agrees with the Scottish Trades Union Congress that consideration should be given to education and training for career progression from vocational to professional qualifications. However, the committee thinks that there should be a minimum of two unannounced inspection visits a year, even given the implications of that measure for staff and training. Furthermore, the commission's regional offices should be located on the basis of health board boundaries. Finally, nannies and nanny agencies should be included within the scope of the bill.
Nothing in the bill ensures a local dimension by way of advisory committees. I should declare an interest, as I was the chair of the advisory committee on inspection regulation in Glasgow City Council. Advisory committees have provided users, care service providers and locally elected members with the opportunity to contribute to the debate at local level.
The bill is potentially one of the most significant that the Parliament will consider. In order to protect vulnerable people of all ages and the staff who care for them, we must get it right. I hope that the minister will take this opportunity to listen. Standards will not be raised if we do not train, support and protect the staff who care for our vulnerable people.
No one in any political party would disagree that we should safeguard vulnerable people. That means vulnerable people of all ages: children; young adults; middle-aged people; and older people. That is what the bill is about. It is not a bill about older people; it applies to people across the board.
No one would argue with the fact that we should raise the standards of practice; there is good practice in many areas, but it is patchy. As Shona Robison said, some services are not regulated at all.
I will talk about raising public confidence in the social services work force, which—believe me—is much maligned. If somebody who does not know a person asks that person what they do and is told that the person is a social worker, they take three steps back, give the person a peculiar look and usually do not speak to them again.
No one is interested in the thousands of people who are looked after daily in their own homes and in residential and day care settings by that service, but people are rightly concerned about bad practice. The media are right to draw our attention to the fact that sexual, physical and emotional abuse exists in homes for young children, young adults and older people—the bill goes some way towards changing that situation.
Shona Robison rightly pointed out that, until now, whistleblowing has been the most effective way of policing poor standards and bad practice. The courageous workers who report those conditions must be confident that they will be protected. As the proposed new council will oversee discipline of the most serious cases of misconduct, it is important that the council is as strong as the commission. In other words, those bodies should be seen as equals.
Training is an important element of the bill. Indeed, at some point, the Scottish Parliament needs to review the overall training of social workers. In the past, particularly in residential care, social workers were only as good as the people with whom they worked their shifts. If a new person worked their shifts with somebody who was confident and good at their job, that was how they usually continued. However, many care workers, especially in residential care, received no training at all.
The Local Government Committee is concerned that there should be appropriate levels of resourcing, training and recruiting, because the bill means that we will have to increase the number of staff. I believe sincerely that there is a need for designated training for registration and inspection staff.
I must confess that, while I was the chair of resources in Glasgow City Council, the training budget was constantly cut. I do not feel good about that, but it happened simply because training was not seen as providing a front-line service. Although that situation has changed in Glasgow and other places, it is important to ensure that the money for training is where it should be.
The Local Government Committee also agrees with the Scottish Trades Union Congress that consideration should be given to education and training for career progression from vocational to professional qualifications. However, the committee thinks that there should be a minimum of two unannounced inspection visits a year, even given the implications of that measure for staff and training. Furthermore, the commission's regional offices should be located on the basis of health board boundaries. Finally, nannies and nanny agencies should be included within the scope of the bill.
Nothing in the bill ensures a local dimension by way of advisory committees. I should declare an interest, as I was the chair of the advisory committee on inspection regulation in Glasgow City Council. Advisory committees have provided users, care service providers and locally elected members with the opportunity to contribute to the debate at local level.
The bill is potentially one of the most significant that the Parliament will consider. In order to protect vulnerable people of all ages and the staff who care for them, we must get it right. I hope that the minister will take this opportunity to listen. Standards will not be raised if we do not train, support and protect the staff who care for our vulnerable people.
In the same item of business
The Presiding Officer (Sir David Steel):
NPA
Our main item of business is a debate on motion S1M-1523, in the name of Susan Deacon, on the general principles of the Regulation of Care (Scotland) Bill, w...
The Minister for Health and Community Care (Susan Deacon):
Lab
I am conscious that, as we gather here this afternoon, certain events south of the border may have distracted some politicians and members of the public from...
Nicola Sturgeon (Glasgow) (SNP):
SNP
On consultation, the minister will be aware that concern has been expressed by, I think, everybody who has given evidence to the Health and Community Care Co...
Susan Deacon:
Lab
That is one of the issues that has arisen during early consideration of the bill. I will say more about it later in my speech, but I stress now that, at stag...
Mr Keith Raffan (Mid Scotland and Fife) (LD):
LD
Will the minister give way?
Susan Deacon:
Lab
In the interest of time, I will continue, if I may.We already intend to regulate home care for children with disabilities. We now propose to extend regulatio...
Nicola Sturgeon:
SNP
Will the minister give way?
Susan Deacon:
Lab
I regret that, in the interest of time, I am unable to give way. The deputy minister will respond at the end of the debate and will pick up on points that ha...
The Presiding Officer:
NPA
I call Mary Scanlon to speak to and move the amendment.
Iain Smith (North-East Fife) (LD):
LD
On a point of order, Presiding Officer. Will you clarify for me the reasoning behind accepting the amendment? According to rule 9.6.4 of the standing orders,...
The Presiding Officer:
NPA
I commend to Iain Smith and to all members the guidance that I issued on this subject only a week or two ago. The amendment falls completely within the terms...
Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con):
Con
Although we have lodged amendment S1M-1523.1, the Scottish Conservatives welcome the broad principles of the Regulation of Care (Scotland) Bill. We particula...
Iain Smith:
LD
Will the member give way?
Mary Scanlon:
Con
I think that Mr Smith has said enough for today and I would rather keep my contribution positive.
Mrs Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD) rose—
LD
Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab) rose—
Lab
Mary Scanlon:
Con
Alzheimer Scotland does not pay registration fees—Interruption.
The Presiding Officer:
NPA
Order. Three members are asking whether Mrs Scanlon will give way, but it is up to her to decide whether to do so.
Mary Scanlon:
Con
I will give way to Mrs Smith.
Mrs Smith:
LD
The SCRO check payments have been set aside. All parties in the chamber supported that and the Executive has listened.
Mary Scanlon:
Con
I am aware that, between the submission of evidence and today, there has been quite a bit of movement. That is why I say that the points that have been made ...
Shona Robison (North-East Scotland) (SNP):
SNP
On behalf of the Scottish National Party, I welcome the Regulation of Care (Scotland) Bill. I also welcome the fact that the headquarters of the new Scottish...
Mrs Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD):
LD
I begin by thanking the members of the Health and Community Care Committee for their work on the bill. I thank the members of all the other committees that h...
Trish Godman (West Renfrewshire) (Lab):
Lab
The Regulation of Care (Scotland) Bill is part of our modernising programme for government—and rightly so.I say to the Tories that to suggest, even as a joke...
Ben Wallace (North-East Scotland) (Con):
Con
Will Trish Godman give way?
Trish Godman:
Lab
No. I have just started my speech.No one in any political party would disagree that we should safeguard vulnerable people. That means vulnerable people of al...
Irene McGugan (North-East Scotland) (SNP):
SNP
I want to raise several children's issues that have been identified by the Education, Culture and Sport Committee and by the cross-party group in the Scottis...
Margaret Jamieson (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (Lab):
Lab
I declare an interest in the matter, as a member of Unison and the mother of a student nursery nurse. I do not want anything to come back to haunt me later.T...
Mary Scanlon:
Con
Will the member give way?
Margaret Jamieson:
Lab
No, I am winding up.In particular, I draw members' attention to section 2(2) of the bill, in which reference is made to somebody "being of a young age". At n...