HC Deb 02 May 1995 vol 259 cc185-6W
Dr. Godman

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement about the terms of reference given to his working party which is reviewing the ownership, management and monitoring of privately owned residential homes for elderly citizens; and if he will list the members of the aforesaid committee. [21844)

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

Following is the remit of the Scottish Office working group on residential care home registration procedures:

Purpose

  1. (a) To review, in the light of recent incidents, current registration and inspection procedures and local authority powers under the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968, as amended by the Registered Establishments (Scotland) Act 1987.
  2. (b) To review current Scottish Office guidance and practice guidance on these issues.
  3. (c) To have regard to the financial and operational implications of regulatory control for independent sector providers.
  4. (d) To have regard to the parallel exercise relating to the registration and inspection of nursing homes.
  5. (e) To recommend to Ministers such changes as may he necessary concerning (a) to (c).

Objective To provide local authorities with the necessary framework to achieve effective and equitable regulation of independent sector establishments in order to protect the welfare and interests of residents.

The members of the working group represent the main interest groups as follows:

The Scottish Office

Mr. G. Anderson (Chair)

Ms P. McCaw

Mr. H. MacKenzie

Mr. A. McNaughton

Mrs. J. McNeill

Convention of Scottish Local Authorities

Mr. A. Robb, Director, Grampian Regional Council Social Work Department

Association of Directors of Social Work

Miss M. Hartnoll, Director, Strathclyde Regional Council Social Work Department (alternative Mr. R. Winter, Deputy Director)

Social Work Department Registration and Inspection Units

Mr. I Middleton, Head of Unit, Lothian Regional Council Social Work Department

Local Authority Law and Administration

Mr. R. Marr, Assistant Chief Executive, Borders Regional Council

British Federation of Care Home Proprietors

Mr. H. Ross

Scottish Association of Care Home Owners

Mr. C. Cowie

Scottish Federation of Housing Associations

Mr. D. Bookbinder

Voluntary Sector

Mr. I. Baillie, Director of Social Work, Church of Scotland

Users Advocacy

Mr. J. Jackson, Executive Director, Alzheimer Scotland—Action on Dementia