I take back what I said about the main asset of the latest Solace booklet being its pretty-coloured cover, because there’s a good explanation by Scotland’s Chief Social Work Inspector Alexis Jay, on how their free personal care policy is working. The England government could learn something from this. It is ‘probably the most popular measure put in place by devolved government in Scotland’ and has shifted the balance from residential to community care.

Palliative care social workers still struggling with continuing care could well look north of the border. Certainly it’s worth retiring there if you’re feeling a bit decrepit, just in case.

Free personal care is not problem-free, of course, and you can see the full picture in last year’s report from the Scottish Auditor General:

Audit Scotland (2009) A review of free personal and nursing care Edinburgh: Audit Scotland

http://www.audit-scotland.gov.uk/docs/health/2007/nr_080201_free_personal_care.pdf

Jay, A. (2009) Free personal care. in Bruce, S., Hume, D. and Jay, A. (2009) Creating Positive Outcomes through Social Work Services. London: Guardian Public: 45-9.