Scottish Labour has said that any national care service should block the provision of care and support by any for-profit body.

The party has included ending the ‘market-based model of commissioning’ of social care as one of six key tests that it says should be met if a national care service is to be ‘worthy of the name’.

A Scottish government review set up to consider the reform is set to report this month.

It is not clear what exactly a national care service could look like, with options seeming to range from more national standards and oversight within the current model, to all care being provided by the public sector.

The latter option would be exorbitantly expensive, with the 1,000 private and third sector adult care homes in Scotland thought to be worth £2bn, according to a government-commissioned valuation.

As of November, the independent review was yet to decide on the ‘purpose and function of a national care service’.

Meeting minutes from then asked: ‘Does a NCS pick up workforce planning and a national curriculum for training and development?’

Scottish Labour’s requirements were set out by Richard Leonard in the last hours before he resigned as party leader.

Interim leader Jackie Bailie and UK leader Keir Starmer praised Mr Leonard for campaigning for a national care service.

A Labour consultation found that 84% of respondents believed private companies should not be allowed to profit from care.

The new tests set out by the party include increasing social care funding as a ‘national priority’, ‘consistent standards of quality and equity of access across the country’ and whether a NCS empowers individuals and carers to be involved in decisions about their care.

Another test for any future national service is ‘democratic accountability’ for care services locally and nationally, as well as investment in staffing and guaranteed sectoral bargaining for staff.

Mr Leonard said: "The Covid-19 pandemic has made it clearer than ever that Scotland's current care system is not working.

“I welcome the SNP government's belated acceptance of the case for a national care service – but there are key changes we need to see if there is to be meaningful reform of social care and delivery of a national care service worthy of the name.

"It's time to make care a national priority, end the profit motive, deliver consistent standards and empower service users, families and the workforce. It's time to care about care."

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