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Date: 18 April 2012
UNISON calls for a coherent strategy for social care services
Launch of UNISON Scotland social care manifesto for local
government elections
Councils need a coherent strategy to ensure the sustainability
of social care services, says UNISON. Launching the union's
social care manifesto for May's local elections today (Wednesday),
UNISON Scotland's Depute Convener Stephen Smellie said councils
need to focus on putting care before cost.
Stephen Smellie, UNISON Scotland Depute Convener, said: "Social
care staff are expected to perform miracles by helping people
to change their lives. But increasing levels of unemployment,
homelessness and poverty place ever greater demands on services
and staff are constantly overstretched.
"We'll be challenging all the candidates in the forthcoming
elections on their commitment to social care, and asking them
to support the principles in our manifesto. We want to know
that they are committed to putting care before cost when it
comes to delivering the services that people depend on."
Dave Watson, UNISON's Scottish Organiser, said: "Budgets are
continually being cut and this has led to real fears about the
sustainability of services. Councils need a coherent strategy
for care services to reverse cuts in funding, boost staffing
levels and cut service charges.
"Care services continue to be designed and imposed from above
and this needs to change. People need to have a real say in
how services are delivered in their communities and the only
way to ensure that is to put users and staff at the heart of
service design and delivery."
ENDS
Notes to editors
1. You can download a copy of the UNISON Scotland social care
manifesto online at http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/socialwork/minimanifesto.pdf.
UNISON Scotland's local government manifesto can also be found
online at http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/publicworks
2. For more information contact:
- Dave Watson, UNISON's Scottish Organiser, on 07958 122 409.
- Stephen Smellie, UNISON Scotland's Vice Convener, on 07740
096 864.
- Trisha Hamilton, UNISON's Communications Officer, on 0141
342 2877 or 07939 478 461.
Alternatively, please visit our website at http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk
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