As part of The Alliance’s ‘Future of Social Care’ series, VOX Scotland’s Chair, Douglas Pickering, penned a guest blog reflecting on the challenges and opportunities for those with mental ill-health within the National Care Service consultation.
The blog covers a range of issues, including the need for an end to the ‘postcode lottery’ of service provision in different areas of Scotland and the ambition for a National Care Service that is flexible and adaptable – one which recognises that levels of support needed, even for one individual, are likely to fluctuate over time.
Douglas notes that social care should be rights-based and it should be empowering. But in order for this to become a reality for all we need a significant boost in investment and support for the workforce, provision of additional services that provide support pre-crisis, and meaningful involvement of those with lived experience to co-produce solutions.
This blog was shaped by member feedback from engagement work which Paula Fraser (VOX Development Officer) has been undertaking. If you would like to find out more, or have your views heard in VOX Scotland’s response to the National Care Service consultation, please contact Paula on pfraser@mentalhealth.org.uk