Scottish social care minister Maree Todd has outlined the next steps in parliament to progress the Nation Care Service Bill, following it being paused in November 2024. The plan included a new non-statutory advisory board to provide guidance and drive improvement within the sector, which will include a wide range of experts such as those with lived experience of accessing care, social care workers, care providers, trade unions, the NHS, and local government. The board is set to meet for the first time in the spring.

Anne’s Law, which gives residents in care homes the right to be visited by friends and family, will remain in the legislation to reform social care, alongside a £5 million boost to the £8 million already provided for unpaid carers to have the right to take breaks. This will allow 15,000 more carers to take short breaks from  their caring responsibilities.

The Scottish government bill also includes reform to improve information-sharing across health settings, as well as the ability for individuals to access and management about their care, while progressing plans for a national social work partnership.

Maree Todd said: “We want to deliver a National Care Service that improves the experience of everyone who relies on social care, social work and community health in Scotland.

“Change is urgency needs to reform th social care sector in Scotland but it has to be meaningful and sustainable change. That’s why we paused the Bill for further consideration, to fully capture the views expressed by all stakeholders, members of the public and the Parliament.

“The advisory board will include people with lived experience of social care, ensuring it has those who access services at its heart. It will allow us to drive forward vital reform more quickly than our original proposals.

“The Bill gives adult care home residents a legal right to see their loved ones with the implementation of Anne’s Law and recognises the significant contribution of unpaid carers to Scotland’s communities by introducing a right to breaks.

“There will be enhanced information-sharing to improve the coordination of individuals’ care, and we will work in partnership with the sector to bring forward reform that future-proofs the social work service in Scotland.

“People need sustainable change to social care and these actions will allow that to happen as quickly as possible.”