Links

This section of our website contains links to other health and social care websites that we think you might find useful. We check the links regularly to ensure they are working, but please contact us if you find that any of the links are not working. If you would like us to add a link to your website to this page, please get in touch.

Age Concern

Age Concern is a federation of about 400 independent charities working locally, regionally and nationally with and for older people to promote the well-being of all older people and to make later life a fulfilling and enjoyable experience.

www.ace.org.uk

Alzheimer Scotland

Alzheimer Scotland is Scotland's leading dementia charity. It provides services and campaigns actively to help people with dementia and their families and carers.

www.alzscot.org.uk

Association of Directors of Social Work

The Association of Directors of Social Work is a constituted group of senior Social Workers who work in Scottish local government and aim to promote social welfare, social inclusion and the interests of those who use the social work services.

www.adsw.org.uk

Audit Scotland

Audit Scotland's role is to provide the Auditor General and the Accounts Commission with the services they need to carry out their duty to check that public money is spent properly, efficiently and effectively by public bodies in Scotland.

www.accounts-commission.gov.uk

BASW

British Association of Social Workers – The British Association of Social Workers is an organisation of members serving members.

www.basw.co.uk

British Geriatrics Society

Official website of the BGS, an association of doctors, nurses, therapists and scientists with a particular interest in the medical care of the frail older person, and in promoting better health in old age.

www.bgs.org.uk/

Care Commission

Inspects and regulates care services by taking account of the National Care Standards.

www.carecommission.com

Care Scotland

The Care Scotland website provides information about the 21st Century Social Work Review, Performance Management and Care in Practice.

www.carescotland.org.uk

Centre for Change and Innovation

The NHS Centre for Change and Innovation (CCI) provides NHS staff with practical support and expertise to improve patient care.

www.cci.scot.nhs.uk

Change Agent Team

The English Department of Health Change Agent Team (CAT) was set up in 2002 to improve services for older people, initially focusing on delayed discharges. It now has a wider remit to provide advice and support on a wide range of issues that affect the care of older people.

www.changeagentteam.org.uk

Communities of Practice for Local Government

This website supports professional networking across local government and the public sector. It is a freely accessible resource that enables knowledge development and sharing through online communities of practice. Registered members can join communities, or create their own, connect with their peers and domain experts, arrange meetings, participate in forums, up-load documents and subscribe to conversations.

www.communities.idea.gov.uk/welcome.do

Communities Scotland

A Scottish Executive agency whose aim is to work with others to ensure decent housing and strong communities across Scotland.

www.communitiesscotland.gov.uk

Community Care

Website providing news and articles relating to all areas of social care, including regularly updated summaries from national newspapers, recruitment section and directory of care providers.

www.communitycare.co.uk

COSLA

Convention of Scottish Local Authorities – COSLA is the representative voice of Scottish local government and also acts as the employers' association on behalf of all Scottish councils.

www.cosla.gov.uk

CSIP - The Readiness Tools

The Readiness Tools (RTs) have been developed by the Department of Health’s Care Services Improvement Partnership Networks, in collaboration with Professor Bob Hudson from Durham Universtiy, to assist local agenices assess their readiness for the new forms of working required by Our health, Our care, Our say.

www.readiness-tools.com/

Dementia Services Development Centre

Based at the University of Stirling, the Dementia Centre's role is to extend and improve services for people with dementia and their carers in Scotland.

www.dementia.stir.ac.uk

European Centre for Connected Health

Northern Ireland is leading the way in developing new technologies to help people with chronic conditions live independently at home, and was recently made a European Centre for Excellence.

www.eu-cch.org

Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities

The Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities aims to improve the quality of life for people with learning disabilities by conducting research and sharing the findings with other people. The Foundation is a registered charity that works with people and their families to ensure they can use effective services, play a fuller part in communities and society, and enjoy equal rights.

www.learningdisabilities.org.uk

Help the Aged

Help the Aged is a charity that works to ensure older people are valued for their contribution to society, involved in their local communities and fulfilled in their needs, hopes and aspirations.

www.helptheaged.org.uk

Integrated Care Network

Integrated Care Network (ICN) aims to help frontline care organisations work together to deliver flexible services that help people remain in control and live independent lives.

www.integratedcarenetwork.gov.uk

Local Government Health Improvement Programme

The Health Scotland Local Government Programme is intended to help develop relationships and support health improvement activity between COSLA and other national local government organisations and agencies, all 32 councils and Community Planning Partnerships. This site is for all those within local government who have an interest and role in improving health.

www.improvementservice.org.uk/health

Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland

The Mental Welfare Commission is an independent organisation set up by Parliament with the responsibility of protecting the welfare of people with mental disorder (including learning disabilities and dementia) in Scotland. It has a duty to anyone with a mental disorder whether they are in hospital, in local authority, voluntary run or private accommodation or in their own home.

www.mwcscot.org.uk

NHS Quality Improvement Scotland (NHS QIS)

NHS QIS was established as a Special Health Board by the Scottish Executive in 2003, in order to act as the lead organisation in improving the quality of healthcare delivered by NHS Scotland.

www.nhshealthquality.org

Scottish Ambulance Service

The Scottish Ambulance Service is a Special Health Board funded directly by the Health Department of the Scottish Executive to deliver frontline NHS services.

www.scottishambulance.com

Scottish Centre for Telehealth

A centre of expertise set up to support Telehealth solutions by disseminating best practice, developing inter-operable standards and protocols, providing practical support, and evaluating the impact of telehealth on service redesign.

www.sct.scot.nhs.uk/index.html

Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO)

The Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations is the national body representing the voluntary sector. It seeks to advance the values and shared interests of the voluntary sector by fostering co-operation, promoting best practice and delivering sustainable services.

www.scvo.org.uk

Scottish Development Centre for Mental Health

The Scottish Development Centre for Mental Health aims to improve mental health and well-being for individuals and communities in Scotland and enhance services and support for people with mental health problems.

www.sdcmh.org.uk

Scottish Executive Joint Future Unit

The Joint Future Unit is a policy team within the Scottish Executive that leads on joint working in community care between NHS Scotland and Scottish local authorities.

www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Health/care/JointFuture/

Scottish Federation of Housing Associations

SFHA is owned by its membership and exists to support the work of housing associations and co-operatives in Scotland by providing services, advice and good practice guidance.

www.sfha.co.uk

Scottish Health Council

The Scottish Health Council is a body that was set up by the Scottish Executive in 2005 to ensure that the views of patients and the public are properly taken into account by Health Boards.

www.scottishhealthcouncil.org

Scottish Parliament

Official website of the Scottish Parliament

www.scottish.parliament.uk

Scottish Social Services Council

The Scottish Social Services Council is responsible for raising standards in the Scottish social services workforce.

www.sssc.uk.com

Social Work Inspection Agency

Social Work Inspection Agency (SWIA) is a Scottish Executive agency that inspects all social work services in Scotland and reports publicly and to Parliament on the quality of those services, locally and nationally. SWIA aims to deliver rigorous inspections that will drive up standards and improve the quality of social work services across Scotland.

www.swia.gov.uk

SOLACE

Society of Local Authority Chief Executives and Senior Managers – SOLACE is the representative body for senior strategic managers working in local government. The society promotes effective local government and provides professional development for its members.

www.solace.org.uk

Telecare Services Association

The representative body for the Telecare industry in the UK. Information online about standards, best practice, the TSA Code of Practice, accredited members, and benefits of joining the TSA.

www.telecare.org.uk

The Chartered Institute of Housing

The Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) is the professional body for people working in housing. Its purpose is to maximise the contribution that housing professionals make to the well-being of communities.

www.cih.org

The Same as You?

This website reports on the work of The Same as You? Implementation Group that was set up by the Scottish Executive to help achieve better services for people with learning disabilities.

www.scotland.gov.uk/ldsr/docs/tsay-00.asp

Well Scotland

The Scottish Government's National Programme for Improving Mental Health and Well-being is driving a change in knowledge, attitudes and behaviour towards mental health. Positive mental health is essential if Scotland is to enjoy a healthier future

www.wellscotland.info/index.html