The relationship between the voluntary sector, care and the Scottish Government is examined.
A new report has warned Scotland’s care and voluntary sectors risk becoming dependant on charitable funding, which could see care provision fragmenting across the country.
From Welfare to Charity?, a new paper produced by author Colin Turbett for the Common Weal think tank, provides a history of Scottish social work as its “delivery transitioned from a matter of government social security to a task for volunteers and the charity sector”.
The paper comes amid discussions on the future of care in Scotland, with plans for a National Care Service, outlined by the Scottish Government, currently at a standstill.
In particular, the paper warns of the unintended consequences of charities competing for ever-shrinking pots of funding.
The paper adds: “As government retreated from the role of social work, charities and the voluntary sector were forced to step into the gap.
“While many performed admirably given their constrained resources, they often found themselves competing in an industry dominated by “big salaries and well-paid executives” as they fought for increasing fragmented pots of grant funding.
“This has resulted in poorer outcomes for those who need this care.”
As included are concerns about the short-term political commitments made by those in power at Holyrood, as they look to fulfil manifesto pledges.
The think-tank wrote: “The impact has been a diversion of social work and social care funding away from local government control and decision-making process, to central government disbursement to whoever is judged to be in the best position to meet particular target areas that meet policy objectives.”
Common Weal has offered a blueprint for a National Care Service that would reverse the market model of care and offers this paper as a warning of what may happen if the Scottish Government continues with its plans as they currently stand.
They wrote: “Here we believe, is an opportunity to reverse neo-liberalism and not just drive profit out of care, but reinvigorate the role of local authorities to promote social welfare. The main thrust of our thinking is that a return to community designed and led services should come through local authorities as the main organ of local representation and decision making.”
