Scotland’s Social Care Minister says consultation on the detail of a National Care Service will continue for many more months despite a commitment that legislation to allow the reforms will be introduced to parliament by the summer.

Speaking at a Scottish Policy Conference, Kevin Stewart sought to reassure critics who have suggested the process is moving too fast and risks ignoring or leaving behind key stakeholders including Scotland’s local councils.

He revealed the government will meet its commitment to introduce a draft national care service bill to the Scottish parliament by this summer – but many of the details of the new organisation will follow later:

“You are always between a rock and a hard place,” Mr Stewart told the conference. “Some folks think you rush things and other people say you’re not going fast enough. Because if you talk to some of the stakeholders, the voices of lived experience, they say you’re not going fast enough.

“What we will have is framework legislation. And we will be able to do many things incrementally. And because we do it that way, that gives us the opportunity at every stage to consult and to communicate and to collaborate in order to get that legislation absolutely spot on.”

The Minister acknowledged concerns raised by local government organisation COSLA and trade unions that local knowledge and expertise will be lost in a national service with the creation of Community Health and Social Care Boards to replace Integration Joint Boards that had councils at the table as equal partners of the NHS.

Mr Stewart said: “I want to take this opportunity to state very clearly and unequivocally that local authorities are important partners in delivering social care and support now, and they will remain so as we develop new ways to deliver improved and consistent standards of care across the country.

“The National Care Service is a programme of reform to ensure those who use the services get the right care and support whatever their needs at any point in their care journey, and that the delivery is consistent with high standards of care for everyone across Scotland. And, as part of the national oversight role, the National Care Service will improve the integration of health and social care by enabling people of all ages to access consistent, equitable and comprehensive social care support.”

The Social Care Minister was asked about the acute and continuing challenges attracting and retaining social care staff who feel overworked and undervalued.

Mr Stewart replied that the advent of the NCS will be accompanied by a national approach to employing people:

“The only way that we are going to attract people into the social care profession is to make sure that the terms and conditions and pay are right. And that’s why national pay bargaining that looks at terms and conditions, at that fair work agenda, has to be at the heart of what we do in order to build a workforce that is fit for the future, to deliver the best possible service for folks in Scotland.

“We have to ensure, and we will ensure, that no matter if you’re working for a third sector organisation or a local authority or for the health service, but are working in the National Care Service, everyone should have that fair work agenda.”

The Minister revealed that he has had early discussions with organisations including NHS Education for Scotland and the Open University on opportunities for continuous professional development and training that would allow people to progress in their careers.

“At this moment, some employers deny staff the training that they need to do their job and, without identifying anyone, I’ve had folks saying to me, in order for me to be able to carry out my job I’ve not had every aspect of training that I would like to serve the folks that I’m delivering care for.”

He added that National Care Service will have ethical procurement, that requires fair work practices, “at its very heart”.

Read more: COSLA: NCS will break up council workforce; Call for ‘revolution’ in social care commissioning; Minister: Public backs our National Care Service plans

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