National Care Service
The Scottish Government is improving social care support, social work and community health in Scotland.
Vision for the National Care Service
Social care has the power to transform people’s lives. This is why we are introducing a National Care Service and reforming social care to ensure those accessing services receive the highest quality care, delivered consistently across Scotland.
We recognise the value the social work and social care workforce brings to our communities. We will support the workforce to deliver the best possible services for the people of Scotland, ensuring the profession flourishes and make the sector fit for the future.
The National Care Service and social care reform is being developed in collaboration with people who have lived experience of the community health and social care system to ensure that it supports those it is designed to help.
Learn more about the improvements the National Care Service will make.
National Care Service Advisory Board
The Advisory Board will improve social care, social work and community health services by making sure they are consistent, fair and high-quality across Scotland.
The Board will be made up of people who have personal experience of accessing and delivering social care, social work and community health services.
An interim Board, set up in 2025, has been appointed in the first instance. This will mean the Board can start its work quickly, while we recruit members for the Advisory Board.
NCS forums
Each year we host a NCS National Forum. This is a chance for us to share updates on the progress of the NCS and hear people’s views and ideas. The Forum is open to everyone.
The 2024 NCS National Forum was held on 7 October at Glasgow Science Centre.
We have published transcripts of speeches from the event and a full report of the event is also available.
You can find information about our 2023 NCS National Forum here. This includes a report about what happened at the event, and transcripts and videos of the speeches.
You can also read reports from our 2023 regional forums. These were smaller local events we held in different areas across Scotland.
Co-designing with the people of Scotland
Co-design means working together to understand, explore, and agree how the NCS should work.
As we continue to co-design the NCS, we’re committed to listening to the voices of experts.
These are people with experience of social care services, including:
- people who access social care support
- their family and support network
- unpaid carers
- the workforce
- organisations and people who deliver social care support
- third sector organisations
- people who have received or been involved in delivering social care support in the past
We are committed to publishing the findings and insights gained from our ongoing co-design work and how this will impact policy surrounding the National Care Service.
Read our co-design publications.
Get involved in co-designing the National Care Service.