The episode reports on learning from cohort three and explores meaningful engagement and community activity. David and Katy look at more care home case studies and give details of the Care Inspectorate’s new Practical Dementia Resources platform. Finally, Katy gives career updates, including a new job and winning awards.

Useful links:

Right Decisions - Practical dementia resources

Finding the Why is back for a new season! In this episode, David and Katy give a quick recap of the first season of the podcast, including some of the learning from cohorts two and three. They then discuss the successes of care homes that introduced alternative therapies such as hand massage and the Japanese energy healing therapy, Reiki.

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

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.

Care Inspectorate - Meaningful Connection webpage

Scottish Care

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

Care Inspectorate - Safe Staffing Programme webpage

Safe Staffing Mailing List

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

Care Inspectorate Safe Staffing Programme webpage

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

Care Inspectorate Safe Staffing Programme webpage

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

Care Inspectorate Safe Staffing Programme webpage

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

Care Inspectorate Safe Staffing Programme webpage

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  

Care Inspectorate Safe Staffing Programme webpage

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

Care Inspectorate - safe staffing information guides

Safe Staffing Mailing List