Care Inspectorate podcasts

The importance of connection

Sheri Kerr and Dr Donald Macaskill, CEO of Scottish Care, talk about why connection is so important and the importance of a human rights based approach.

Meaningful connection, Care Inspectorate

Scottish Care

Joanne Duncan

In this episode we hear from Joanne Duncan, an early learning and childcare inspection team manager at the Care Inspectorate. 

Joanne Duncan has many years’ experience in a variety of sectors within early learning and childcare (ELC) and started working with the Care Inspectorate as an ELC inspector in 2020. Joanne's passion for recognising and valuing the contribution that all staff make towards delivering Scotland’s vision of providing children with a high-quality care and learning experience, lead her to the temporary role of safe staffing adviser to support the sector prepare for enactment. Joanne is now a team manager within the early learning and childcare inspection teams and continues to support the sector to ensure children experience care that is safe, high-quality and that meets their needs, rights, and choices.

Useful links:

The Health and Care (Staffing) (Scotland) Act 2019

Safe Staffing Programme, The Care Inspectorate Hub

Safe Staffing Mailing List

Sarah Wroe and Sam Taylor

In this episode we hear from Sarah Wroe and Sam Taylor who tell us about the Health and Care (Staffing) (Scotland) Act 2019 and Sense Scotland, a national charity supporting and campaigning for children and adults with complex needs.

Sarah Wroe is the learning and development manager at Sense Scotland, a leading Scottish charity and specialised social care provider supporting people with complex needs. Sarah is responsible for the design, implementation, and strategic oversight of the organisation’s learning and development programmes. In her role, she ensures that staff across the organisation are equipped with the skills, knowledge, and confidence required to deliver high quality, person-centred support. Sarah plays a key role in embedding creative and sustainable training solutions in response to sector-wide challenges such as funding pressures, regulatory requirements, and the need for flexible, inclusive learning formats. Sarah also collaborates closely with operational teams, regulatory bodies, and partner organisations to maintain high standards and support continuous improvement across services.  

Sam Taylor is the registered manager for Sense Scotland’s short breaks and respite service in South Lanarkshire, which provides respite care to people over the age of 16 years with communication support needs, complex health and physical support needs who may also have a sensory disability. Sam’s job role is wide ranging and involves ensuring the operational day to day management of the service, that the health, safety, and wellbeing of all people supported, and colleagues is maintained, ensuring that the quality of service provided is at a high level, liaising with internal and external stakeholders, delivering training and budget management. 

Useful links:

Sense Scotland

The Health and Care (Staffing) (Scotland) Act 2019

Safe Staffing Programme, The Care Inspectorate Hub

Caroline Deane

In this episode, we speak with Caroline Deane, workforce policy and practice lead at Scottish Care, about how she’s been supporting care providers through the changes brought by the Act. Caroline discusses a wide range of topics highlighting the collaborative efforts and aspirations for the future of social care.

Caroline Deane is the workforce policy and practice lead for Scottish Care and is passionate about championing and supporting the social care workforce. Her work focuses on critical areas such as registration, regulation, and learning and development opportunities. Caroline is committed to ensuring that the voices of social care professionals are represented in policy discussions, influencing key stakeholders and shaping decisions that directly affect the sector.  

Useful links:

Scottish Care

The Health and Care (Staffing) (Scotland) Act 2019

Safe Staffing Programme, The Care Inspectorate Hub

Alana Scullion

In this episode, Alana Scullion service manager and registered manager for Inverclyde’s Health and Social Care Partnership shares how her team approached preparations for implementing the new legislation in their care at home services. 

Alana Scullion is a service manager in the older people’ service within Inverclyde health and social care partnership. Since 2011, Alana has held a range of roles across the service, gaining experience in managing and supporting frontline care teams, team leadership and service development. With a strong focus on person-centred care and integrated working Alana is passionate about supporting people to live well and independently in their communities.   

Useful links:  

Inverclyde HSCP Care and Support at Home

The Health and Care (Staffing) (Scotland) Act 2019

The Health and Care (Staffing) (Scotland) Act 2019 Statutory Guidance

Safe Staffing Programme, The Care Inspectorate Hub

Emma Barrett

In this episode we hear from Emma Barrett, registered nurse and care at home lead with St Columba’s Hospice, Edinburgh about how they prepared for the implementation of the Act.

Emma Barrett is the lead for St Columba’s Hospice care at home service. This consists of 15 community clinical support workers over the Northeast and Northwest of Edinburgh, and the whole of East Lothian. The team provide an eight-week care service in our palliative patients' homes, delivering end of life care, respite visits or bridge gaps until permanent packages of care are matched. Emma’s role is to oversee all elements of the service with additional resources from a band 5 co-ordinator and a clinical administrator. 

Useful links:  

St Columba's Hospice at Home

The Health and Care (Staffing) (Scotland) Act 2019

The Health and Care (Staffing) (Scotland) Act 2019 Statutory Guidance

Safe Staffing Programme, The Care Inspectorate Hub

An introduction to the Health and Social Care (Staffing) Act 2019

Listen as Steph Thom, lead for the Safe Staffing Programme, introduces the podcast series with a brief overview of the Health and Care Staffing (Scotland) Act 2019 and what it means for care services across Scotland.

Useful links:

The Health and Care (Staffing) (Scotland) Act 2019  

Safe Staffing Programme, The Care Inspectorate Hub

Staffing method framework | Right Decisions (scot.nhs.uk)

SSP HCSA Quick Guide Cards

Safe Staffing Mailing List

Choosing a quality childminder

Care Inspectorate chief executive Jackie Irvine talks with Audrey Donnan, chief inspector for early learning and childcare, about choosing a quality childminder.

Useful links: 

Care Inspectorate website

Getting It Right For Every Child (GIRFEC)

Setting the Table Guidance

Food Matters

Me, my family and my childcare setting

Creating an inclusive care home for all

Sheri Kerr and Claire Alexander, manager of Liberton Brae care home in Edinburgh, talk about creating an inclusive environment for LGBT+ people in care homes. Claire talks about her experience of using the proud to care self-assessment tool to improve inclusivity in her care home to create a positive and safe environment for everyone.  

Useful links:

Proud to Care: LGBT and Dementia: A Guide for Health and  Social Care Providers

LGBT+ Mental Health Audit Tool: A guide for mental health services and organisations to becoming more LGBT+ inclusive

Age UK, Safe to be me

Why are some older people going back into ‘the closet’?

Creating a positive environment for LGBT+ people

Sheri Kerr and Paul Welsh (Care Inspectorate inspector) talk about creating a positive and safe environment for LGBT+ people in care homes.

Useful links:

Proud to Care: LGBT and Dementia: A Guide for Health and  Social Care Providers

LGBT+ Mental Health Audit Tool: A guide for mental health services and organisations to becoming more LGBT+ inclusive

Age UK, Safe to be me

Why are some older people going back into ‘the closet’?

The findings and highlights

Katy and David reflect on lessons learned through the course of the project and future steps.

Useful links:

Celebration presentation

Age UK webinar recording

The data doesn’t lie

Katy and David share case studies related to staff practice in the use of when required psychoactive medicines and the benefit of care homes use of data over time for improvement. Katy and David are again joined Lotte Beaumont, care home manager.

The role staff can have in medication reviews

Katy and David discuss the important role of care staff and clinicians reviewing the continued need for psychoactive medicines and share related case studies.  They are joined by Lotte Beaumont, manager of one of the care homes involved in the project.

 

Personal care

The theme of the case studies discussed in this episode is personal care.  Katy and David are again joined by Gareth Jenks, care home manager.

The philosophy and framework

Katy and David set out the values and framework for their project, share case studies related to changes to the care home environment and discuss the impact this has for residents and staff involved.  They are joined by Gareth Jenks, manager of one of the care homes involved in the project.

 

The beginning

Katy Jenks, HC One Dementia Care Manager, Scotland and David Marshall, Senior Improvement Adviser (Pharmacy) at the Care Inspectorate, discuss the origins of a joint project looking at improving dementia care and reducing inappropriate use of psychoactive medicines in care homes and reflect on the concerns and importance of a care provider and regulator working together.

Useful links:

Review of psychoactive medicines in care homes for older people during the pandemic

Infection prevention and control

Barbara Lawson and Marie McKerry (Care Inspectorate Chief Nurse) look at some of the considerations around infection prevention and control, and why essential visiting is important.  

Useful links:

National Infection Prevention and Control Manual

The Care Inspectorate - Meaningful connection webpage 

Scottish Government - Open with Care 

New Health and Social Care Standards 

Public Health Scotland 

Connecting with dementia

Sheri Kerr and Gareth Hammond (Care Inspectorate Service Manager) highlight some considerations around supporting people living with dementia in a care home to remain connected.  

Useful links:

Care Inspectorate - Meaningful connection webpage 

Care Inspectorate - Enriched model of psychological needs poster 

Care Inspectorate - Come on in 

The Hub - Guide for providers on personal planning for adults 

The Hub - Dementia 

The Bradford Wellbeing Profile  

The Kings Fund - Is your care home dementia friendly? 

Scottish Government - Coronavirus (COVID-19): living with dementia in care homes 

Technology enabled care

Sheri Kerr is joined by Nicky Cronin, the Care Inspectorate’s Senior Improvement Adviser for Technology Enabled Care. They discuss why technology has become increasingly important to support people’s human rights and the need for a person-centred approach to support meaningful connection.  

Useful links:

The Hub - Technology practice guide 

The Hub - Guide for providers on personal planning for adults 

What our inspectors are looking for

Sheri Kerr and Barbara Lawson explore what inspectors in adult services would look for when considering care and support around meaningful connection.  

Useful links:

The Hub - A quality framework for care homes for adults and older people 

The Hub - Health and Social Care Standards 

The Hub - Improvement support section  

The Hub - Guide for providers on personal planning for adults 

Meaningful connection - Self-evaluation tool