Scottish Care at Home

Scottish Care at Home (SCAH), a national representative body established early in 2006, now represents approximately 50% of the private sector’s Care at Home and Housing support services. Members’ contribution to public service provision in Scotland is evidenced by ongoing commitment, flexibility and best value in a changing and difficult climate. 

Demographics identify the growing need for increased care within peoples own homes. The independent sector accounts for approximately 30% of the overall Care at Home Services. Although this figure continues to increase year on year, the in-house provision of local authorities still dominates provision with many independent providers only offered ‘spot’ contracts and often for the more unsocial elements of a care service at unsustainable fixed low rates.

An increasing number of council areas have now compounded service delivery issues with the tendering of contracts.  This has exposed existing services to competition with no regard to the quality of the current service provided or the wishes of service users. This commodity style approach to the purchasing of services has created anxiety and uncertainty for service users with significant management costs for councils and providers. SCAH has brought these concerns to the attention of the Scottish Government.