Health and social care standards

Health and social care standards

Everyone is entitled to safe, high-quality, compassionate care. Different care services offer different types of support, but they all need to meet the Health and Social Care Standards, set by the Scottish Government.

Principles of the Health and Social Care Standards

The standards describe what people can expect from different services and are based on 6 main principles:

• dignity and respect
• compassion
• be included
• responsive care and support
• wellbeing

Read more about the standards at the Care Inspectorate website

Care services covered by the standards

The following standards may apply to the services you use:

• care at home
• support services (day care)
• short breaks and respite care
• adult placement services
• hospice care
• housing support services
• nurse agencies
• care homes for older people

Care Inspectorate

When the Care Inspectorate inspects care services, it checks to make sure the right standards are being met and can take action if this isn’t happening.

Changes to the standards

The Scottish Government has published a consultation on new Health and Social Care Standards that would apply across health and social care. The Scottish Government has written a paper about the new standards called Health and Social Care Standards: My life, my support, which bases the changes around people’s human rights.

Further information

Phone the Care Inspectorate on 0345 600 9527. This should cost the same price as calling a local number from a mobile or landline.

Read the Scottish Government’s Health and Social Care Standards