Local networks for organisations that provide social care for people with disabilities or other support needs in nine Scottish local authority areas: Aberdeenshire, Angus, Dumfries & Galloway, Dundee, Fife, Highland, Moray, Perth & Kinross, Scottish Borders.
Throughout the pandemic forums have been meeting more regularly: to coordinate resources, gain collective insight into what’s working and responses to challenges, and as a vital source of peer support in difficult times.
Forums have also focused on the learning arising from their collective experiences, and how this can inform longer-term changes in how adult social care is planned and delivered. Members are drawn from front line management / leadership positions from within voluntary, statutory and independent sectors.
"As leaders within organisations, being able to join the forum was hugely important – to know that others felt the same and were on the same track."
"In the third sector we have the ability to adapt and change direction. Meeting as a group and having peer support has allowed us to do that."
"I always feel a bit nourished when I come here."
- Provider Forum members
In August 2020 we published the report ‘We’re all in this together – The impact of Covid-19 on the future of social care in Scotland; a view from the workforce’. This captured the experience and learning of 623 social care frontline staff and managers. Key findings were:
We are now publishing a series of discussion papers exploring the report themes in more detail, including recommendations for change at national, local and organisational level.
Our major social care survey showed that the sector excelled in pulling together and working differently and creatively in adverse situations, with people’s best interests at heart. However, we also saw the impact of the pandemic on the wellbeing of the workforce, and how much people valued the chance to come together to share and learn. In December 2020 we piloted refresh & connect, a new series of learning sessions and workshops for staff working at all levels within social care across Scotland.
Refresh & Connect learning sessions are free, and held online.
Refresh sessions give attendees chance to hear from an interesting or motivational speaker, to remember what matters about the work you do.
Connect workshops bring together social care peers from across Scotland to share your experiences and have your say on hot topics for social care.
If you’re interested in refreshing yourself and your learning, contact Catherine Dempsey for more information: [email protected]
"Refreshed me, certainly – made me feel more positive in what I do."
"Hearing this is a booster to remind yourself of the values you forget."
"It ignited a fire a little bit. You get into despair with COVID-19."
"Lots of food for thought, and so fundamentally important. I hope to draw on reflection today a lot in the months ahead."
"Reminding me of the important things. Refreshes your thinking."
- Refresh & Connect attendees
- Enable provider organisations and other stakeholders to work together and learn from each other.
- Increase the voice of provider organisations and people who use services locally, regionally and nationally.
- Facilitate peer-to-peer support between senior social care professionals.
- Enable provider organisations and other stakeholders to work together and learn from each other.
- Increase the voice of provider organisations and people who use services locally, regionally and nationally.
- Facilitate peer-to-peer support between senior social care professionals.
Each forum has formal links with local planning and decision-making processes and is a mechanism for local partnership working.
Through membership of the forums, provider organisations are increasingly willing to set aside commercial interests to work together to continually improve the quality of support they provide.
Members include senior representatives from voluntary and independent sector providers, the local health and social care partnerships and others responsible for the planning and delivery of support.
See the relevant Provider forum for contacts and how to join.
Please contact us if you would like to join a forum or discuss setting up a Provider Forum in your area:
Find out more
ARC Scotland’s Provider Forums are funded by the Scottish Government Care Support and Rights Division and Aberdeenshire Council.
This short paper explores the factors that led to improvements in recruitment over the pandemic; the challenges experienced by providers and potential solutions as identified by the provider workforce. We conclude with an offer of recommendations for change.
This short paper explores factors that helped and hindered staff motivation and commitment during the covid pandemic and how this experience can help inform longer term changes to social care in Scotland.
Learning from a pilot in Fife to develop a collective approach to recruitment in the social care sector
A report capturing the learning and experiences of those involved in the planning and delivery of social care services, particularly those providing social care support to people with learning disabilities, autism and physical disabilities during the Covid-19 pandemic
A report showing our learning from facilitating local forums for provider organisations
