The SNP MSP for Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse, Christina McKelvie MSP, is urging anybody in her constituency that works in care, or has experience of working in the care sector, to engage with a series of co-design events over the summer.
The Scottish Government have been developing a National Care Service in order to improve social care. From the beginning, the Scottish Government has been committed to listening to the voices of experts. According to the Scottish Government, these are “people with experience of social care services, including:
- People who access social care support
- Their family and support network
- Unpaid carers
- The workforce
- Organisations and people who deliver social care support
- Third sector organisations
There will be nine in-person forums across Scotland and five online forums. The in-person forums will take place as follows:
- Forth Valley - Tuesday 20 June - Albert Halls, Stirling
- Glasgow - Wednesday 28 June - William Quarriers Conference Centre, Govan
- Tayside – Friday 14 July - Hilltown Community Centre, Dundee
- Dumfries and Galloway - Tuesday 18 July - Millennium Centre, Stranraer
- Argyll and Bute - Wednesday 26 July - The Corran Hall, Oban
- Skye - Tuesday 1 August - The Hub - An Crùbh Community Centre
- Highlands - Tuesday, 8 August - Strathpeffer Community Centre
- Shetland - Thursday 17 August - Islesburgh Community Centre, Lerwick
- Moray - Tuesday 22 August - The Inkwell Centre, Elgin
In addition, online events, to support the broadest attendance and accessibility, will take place on 24 and 29 August.
More information, including how to sign up, can be found at gov.scot/ncs.
Commenting on these events as the constituency MSP for Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse, Christina said:
“It is brilliant that the Scottish Government is holding these in-person consultation events. I have no doubt that shaping the National Care Service in tune with the lived experiences of a wide range of stakeholders is integral to creating a first-in-class National Care Service.
“I want to encourage anybody in my constituency, indeed, anybody in South Lanarkshire, to attend one of these co-design events if you have any experience of social care, or if you have been part of a support network for somebody that has.
“You have an opportunity to help design a National Care Service that works in every aspect, which will be a much harder undertaking for the Scottish Government without your expert voice in the room or on the online meeting.
“This isn’t necessarily a unique opportunity, but it is certainly an important one. So, get along or attend online, and have your voice shape a National Service which will vitally support the lives of so many people.”