Morning, Thursday, 18th September 2025
Online
This conference will discuss the future for social care policy in Scotland, following the Care Reform (Scotland) Bill completing its passage through the Scottish Parliament in June.
Policy, implementation and funding
It is bringing stakeholders and policymakers together to consider practical strategies for addressing ongoing challenges in the social care system, and priorities for implementing new legislation and forthcoming reform.
The conference will be an opportunity to assess proposed measures in the Bill - including the level of structural reform, governance, accountability and funding sustainability - and what will be needed to address challenges in the system, including long-standing pressures around workforce and demographics, regional disparities, sustainable funding, digital infrastructure, and integration and accountability across services.
With The Scottish Government’s decision not to proceed with structural reforms outlined in Part One of the original National Care Service Bill, we expect a focus of discussion to be key issues in shifting the focus to establishment of a non-statutory National Care Service Advisory Board, and achieving the aim of delivering a practical, rights-based, and workable model for service improvement and national oversight.
Delegates will consider practical priorities for implementing the Bill, including delivering service improvements and supporting closer collaboration between providers, local authorities and the voluntary sector. Discussion is also expected on approaches to improving commissioning practices and accountability across delivery partners.
Further sessions examine funding priorities and options for ensuring the long-term financial sustainability of services. Discussion will draw on findings from the Audit Scotland report published in March, which highlighted concerns around declining service performance, record-high staffing vacancies, and ongoing financial pressures across Integration Joint Boards.
Information sharing, use of technology, and tackling regional disparities
The agenda includes discussion on addressing regional variations in care provision, and priorities for improving continuity and consistency. This will include consideration of digital infrastructure, such as improving the use of care records and developing more effective information sharing between care settings. Delegates will assess priorities for the Scottish Digital Care Record and support for more integrated and person-centred care through improved data sharing across services.
Strategies for improving accessibility will also be examined, particularly in rural and remote areas, alongside priorities for co-production - drawing on lived experience to inform the development of more responsive and inclusive approaches to care.
Workforce priorities and care standards
Sessions will look at next steps for supporting the social care workforce, including defining fair work standards in social care and how they are monitored, alongside priorities for workforce planning, retention, and domestic and international recruitment.
With national social care need assessments due to be published, delegates will consider how they can best support planning to meet future demand - including strategies for managing demographic pressures on services as the population ages.
Discussion will also examine the outlook for professional leadership in social work in Scotland, as the Bill proposes creation of a new National Social Work Agency. Further issues to be considered include the introduction of statutory breaks for unpaid carers, and wider measures aimed at providing greater support and recognition for unpaid carers more generally.
Further discussion is expected on care quality, including implementation of Anne’s Law to protect care home visitation rights, and supporting the health and wellbeing of care home residents, as well as developing personalised care and opportunities for improving continuity of care.
All delegates will be able to contribute to the output of the conference, which will be shared with parliamentary, ministerial, departmental and regulatory offices, and more widely. This includes the full proceedings and additional articles submitted by delegates.
