Annual General Meeting Welcome

1. Annual General Meeting Welcome

2. COCIS – 26/11/14 Lucy McTernan Deputy Chief Executive, SCVO A new Scotland? Power to People

3. Outline Setting out context SCVO work – run up to and after referendum Smith Commission Where next – radical or more of the same?

4. Context Referendum: Significant turnout Debate on issues from currency to Carers’ Allowance People having a real say in what matters to them - that needs to continue on a day to day basis, in relation to the policies and services that affect all our lives. The Vow and Smith: Third sector vocal on timetable and lack of “real voices “ How any new powers implemented – must be “bottom up”. Must drive changes which reduce poverty/inequality.

5. Context New First Minister: “..radical social protection policies” (Hydro, 11/14) Tackling inequality – “personal mission”. Childcare announcement Refreshed Cabinet: Fair work and social justice portfolios Issues affecting unpaid carers– cross cutting but still “located” within public health.

6. Context Smith Commission - Speculation around: Income tax powers (not bands) Some welfare powers – limited? Elections and voting From SCVO perspective: Radical new powers? Opportunities for real change? How can we use powers to tackle inequality? Can Scotland mark a new path e.g. social protection?

7. Context Principles driving further devolution – look back to work of Expert Working Group on Welfare: Dignity, respect, maximising life chances How do we rebuild trust? Creating a “social partnership” Paid work is NOT a route out of poverty People who can’t take up paid employment are valuable citizens; must be supported to achieve full potential Chance to connect disparate services and support THESE PRINCIPLES REFLECTED IN SCVO RESPONSE TO SMITH

8. Smith – 3rd sector perspective SCVO work – Consultation events – involving carers’ organisations Joint writing with sector colleagues; Reflected wider third sector views – examining over 70 responses SCVO response - Called for full devolution of welfare – excluding pensions. Include administration of benefits. (more later) Devolution of remaining employability support including Jobcentre Plus and Work Programme. Devolution of equality law to better align equality with devolved policy areas such as housing, health, education, employment & justice. Opportunities with devolution of human rights legislation – divergence between Scotland and UK?

9. Smith – 3rd sector perspective Welfare devolution: Cohesive package of powers/budgets Links between benefits, social care, housing, education, work. Opportunity to align disconnected services Strong focus on tackling inequality Devolving a particular benefit in isolation may create more confusion and bureaucracy e.g. Carers Allowance devolved, DLA/PIP reserved. Power to create policy – not just “administration”

10. Making change happen How can we ensure new powers make a real difference: Devolution to communities: “We want to see more communities being supported to generate their own services. When more professional input is necessary, we want to see local people involved in the joint design and delivery of those interventions which directly affect them.” (SCVO, 2014) Shifting power/trust: People shaping budgets, policy and legislation – participatory budgeting examples (EVOC) Trust between key services and people (Expert Group on Welfare)

11. Making change happen Taking risks: Becoming less risk averse – living the principles within Self Directed Support. Challenging public services: Use Smith to ask hard questions about how public services operate services – helping families to thrive not driving them to crisis. Commit to an on-going review of Scottish devolution: Devolution is not a one-off event – it is an evolving process. Regular reviews will identify areas for opportunity and improvement.

12. Challenge to you As carers and representative organisations: What do you want to see devolved and why? How do we make these new powers work for us? How do you as carers/carers organisations shape the next steps following Smith? Christie Commission: “Recognising that effective services must be designed with and for people and communities – not delivered ‘top down’ for administrative convenience”

13. For more information http://www.scvo.org.uk lucy.mcternan@scvo.org.uk

14. New Cabinet and Ministers First Minister Cabinet Secretary for Health, Minister for Wellbeing and Sport Public Health Nicola Sturgeon Shona Robison Maureen Watt

15. New Political Landscape

16. Update on the Carers Bill ‘The Bill will be part of the programme for government – to be announced this week’ ‘The Bill will give carers tangible rights’ ‘I am confident the Bill will bring improvement and shift emphasis on to carers whose rights are paramount’

17. Timescales for the Carers Bill Consultation Report – end of the year First draft of the Bill – February / March 2015 3 stages of parliamentary process – Bill becomes an Act and is implemented by April 2016 ‘We need to hear from people with first hand experience’

18. Responses to the Bill 550 carers attended a consultation event or filled in the online survey Duty re Information 100% Survey 100% consultation events Duty re Support 94% Survey 100% consultation events Duty re Short Breaks 95% Survey 90% consultation events

19. Why Carers Support the Duties Whether you are a new carer or have been a carer for some time the walls you hit are ridiculous when trying to get information support and help (carer, West Lothian) Yes there should be a duty to provide information, and it should be provided by a local independent carers centre who can provide independent advocacy and advice, not by social workers (NCO survey) Carers are frustrated that they have a right to a carer’s assessment but no right to the support and resources they are assessed as needing (COCIS meeting) At present this is a postcode lottery (NCO survey) Protects all carers not just carers who are lucky enough to live in a well-resourced area (COCIS meeting)

20. Other Responses to the Bill Duty to Support Duty Short Breaks Duty Information S Ayrshire Council YES YES YES West Lothian Council NO NO NO NHS Ayrshire Arran NO YES YES Inverclyde CHCP YES NO NO Care Inspectorate YES YES The Law Society YES YES Royal College of GPs YES YES COSLA NO NO NO ADSW NO NO NO

21. Reasons for not supporting New Duties • We are doing it already and don't need legislation • A duty may become a minimum standard rather than 'a commitment to strive for excellence • We need additional resources Short Breaks: • are not clearly define • what services would fall within the duty? • a duty on short breaks goes against SDS - suggests a specific resource • is too prescriptive

22. Reasons for not supporting New Duties Eligibility Criteria: • will not ensure a needs based approach • concerns re preventative support and those falling outwith it being overlooked • will not enhance service provision, • will increase bureaucracy • will add to the anxiety of families • developing eligibility critieria will be too much of a challenge

23. Reasons for not supporting New Duties COSLA does not believe that a sufficient case for moving to legislation has been made. Indeed, many of the arguments that are offered in support of legislation are not persuasive

24. How We Need to Respond to Issues • We are doing it already and don't need legislation • Sound Principles for Supporting Carers in their own right • Some areas are ‘striving for excellence’ but a duty will mean all carers know what they are entitled to • Unfair System – need to end postcode lottery • Carers need rights • Carers can’t slip down the agenda

25. How We Need to Respond to Issues Short Breaks: • are not clearly define • what services would fall within the duty? • Power is not working – needs a Duty • Need to ensure the duty in relation to short breaks is not restrictive • There needs to be a range of services on offer

26. How We Need to Respond to Issues • Eligibility Critieria • Big Challenge – we need to get this right • Based on principles, such as having a preventative approach • Must be national criteria or framework • Designed by carers • Not be too bureaucratic • Must encompass an outcomes approach – carer conversations, leading to self-identified options for support

27. How We Need to Respond to Issues • We need additional resources • The Bill needs to be properly scoped • The impact on carer support services needs to be considered • Existing resources can be used more effectively • Additional resources must also be part of the package of reform

28. Summing Up • We have been promised a strong Bill with new rights • Carers need to be involved in creating a Bill that delivers what they need because they understand the system • We need to make sure the right processes are put in place so the Bill can deliver (Eg Eligibility Criteria) • We need to ensure preventative support is protected • The Bill will require resources