The Care Inspectorate has today published a report on how care at home and housing support services have adapted to the Covid-19 pandemic in Scotland.

The report notes that the primary focus in social care during the first months of the Covid-19 pandemic was understandably on issues relating to care homes for older people.

But it also points out that most people in need of care and support, including people with complex health and social care needs, are supported in their own homes.

The Care Inspectorate found that most health and social partnerships and service providers worked well to deliver key services despite the impact of the pandemic. The report notes the commitment from care at home and housing support staff who, despite the fears about their own health, worked hard and worked flexibly to ensure there was capacity to meet people's needs and keep people safe.

The Care Inspectorate found: “Covid-19 had a significant impact on care at home and housing support services providing this support.

“At the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, there was widespread uncertainty and a lack of information and knowledge about the potential impact of the virus. There was also uncertainty about how best to protect people and how to contain the spread of the infection.

“Health and social care partnerships and service providers addressed the unknown and unprecedented experience of the pandemic and resulting restrictions in different ways.

“The evidence from this inquiry indicated that most partnerships and service providers worked well together during this time and with available information and resources made every effort to act in the best interests of people in need of support.”

Peter Macleod, chief executive of the Care Inspectorate said: “We know there are ongoing challenges for care at home and housing support services that mean we need to continue to work together to drive improvement in this sector

“This report draws together the views of health and social care partnerships and service providers about their experience of care at home and housing support services during the first phase of this pandemic. It is intended that it helps to inform future planning and improvement in services, and ultimately to support people experiencing care to live life to the full."

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Notes to editors

The report is available here: https://bit.ly/303JQeZ