Scots back staff regulation plans

Regulation of social care support staff in Scotland has won overwhelming support.

Of more than 100 organisations that responded to a Scottish executive consultation on the issue, 93 per cent supported the extension of regulation to cover health and social care assistants and support staff.

Such support could prompt the Scottish executive to produce legislation to cover the group, since the 21st Century Review of Social Work in Scotland called for support staff to be given a greater role in report writing and administrative tasks.

Regulation was widely seen as the best way of safeguarding the public, while 85 per cent felt it would raise the profile of support workers.

While 80 per cent said support staff should be accountable for their practice, more than half of these said this should depend on their training or the scope of their role.