Ministers announced on 6 November 2008 that there will be two new improvement and scrutiny organisations from April 2011 - a single body for healthcare services and another body for social work and social care services, including child protection and the integration of children’s services.
The new bodies will take on work in these areas currently done by:
- Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education (HMIE)
- NHS Quality Improvement Scotland (NHS QIS)
- Social Work Inspection Agency (SWIA)
- The Care Commission.
The work of NHS QIS, plus the regulation of independent healthcare currently carried out by the Care Commission, will transfer to the new healthcare body.
With the exception of independent healthcare regulation, all of SWIA’s and the Care Commission’s work will
be carried out by the new social work and social care services body. HMIE’s current work leading on the
inspection of services to protect children and developing a model of inspection for children’s services will
transfer to this new body.
Business as usual
In the existing bodies business will continue very much as usual to deliver the current work programmes. It’s important that we reassure everyone, both staff and external stakeholders, that improvement activity and scrutiny will continue.
We are aiming for a smooth transition to the new bodies so the people who use services see no disruption to this very important work.
