New standards launched for people with addiction problems

New national care standards for people with addiction problems
have been launched in Scotland by deputy justice minister Dr
Richard Simpson.

The announcement is the latest phase in introducing national
standards covering 18 aspects of care services regulating children,
vulnerable adults and older people. Simpson said: “Drug and alcohol
misusers are among the most vulnerable people in our society, and
care homes provide valuable treatment and rehabilitation for some
of those with the most serious problems.”

The standards deal with a wide range of factors, but include
improved availability of information on the services, promoting
high quality support and care, meeting the needs of service
users’ dependent children and personal care plans for all
people, including those moving on from the service.

Simpson said: “These standards put the individuals’ needs
and expectations at the heart of decisions taken about their care
and, when they are ready, plans to help them on from care into
community-based support.”

The standards will be managed and regulated by the new Scottish
Commission for the Regulation of Care from 1 April this year. The
new body working to one set of standards replaces more than 40
local bodies each working to different standards.