Dr Jim Elder-Woodward says he hopes respecting the human rights of care recipients can be woven into the DNA of any recommendations made by the independent social care review.

Dr Elder-Woodward, who is Chair of the Independent Living Coalition, has been appointed “in a personal capacity” to the newly established review group.

The First Minister announced the creation of the group last week to review social care in Scotland – and proposals for a national care service – and report by January next year.

The appointment follows a meeting between the review’s chair, Derek Feeley, and the People-led Policy Panel where the panel stressed the importance of having someone who uses social care in the review group.

Inclusion Scotland – the disabled people’s organisation that runs the People-led Policy Panel – said it was “very disappointing” that there was initially no representation on the review of people who use social care support, but that it was “great news” its call had been heeded through the appointment of Dr Elder-Woodward.

The charity said he “will be brilliant advocate and a knowledgeable addition to the advisory panel.”

Dr Elder-Woodward says it is “truly a great honour” to be asked to be part of the review panel:

“Although I have been appointed in a personal capacity, I shall be bringing with me the thoughts and deliberations of the disabled people’s independent living movement in Scotland, including those of the People-Led Policy Panel.

“This group, who have lived experience of social care support, have been working with the Scottish government on the reform of adult social care support.

“I am hoping that one of the major recommendations of this review will be that the human rights and participative citizenship of recipients will form the DNA of any system.”

Nicola Sturgeon announced a review would take place as part of the latest Programme for Government, launched at the start of this month.

It came after an open letter – signed by Inclusion Scotland, Disability Equality Scotland and others – was sent to the Health Secretary Jeane Freeman calling for “urgent, radical action” to address the social care “chasm” in Scotland.

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