Social care service providers could proactively publish information as majority of families and unpaid carers seek FOI law to apply to the sector
With an overwhelming majority of families and unpaid carers who responded to a public consultation desperate for Freedom of Information (FOI) law to apply to the sector, Holmes Mackillop Solicitors points out that care providers could proactively publish information.
Care home providers warn that expanding FOI laws to cover private and voluntary sector care providers creates significant administrative and financial burdens that could drive vulnerable facilities to close.
While public consultation responses show broad support from individuals, roughly three-quarters of care providers strongly oppose the change.
While care home providers have pleaded with the Scottish government not to force them to answer FOI requests, Holmes Mackillop director and Head of Corporate Ralph Riddiough suggests that it is inevitable and points out that care providers could get organised now with a publication scheme.
“This has the added benefit of making it easier to field enquiries if and when that becomes mandatory as you can point to information that is already published as part of your response,” he said.
“At this stage, and as a first step, this could be relatively high level – information about the profile of the company including its ownership structure, registration and contact details, details of services provided, policies, procedures, and the management structure, information regarding inspection reports, funding information and so on.
“Publication schemes are a barometer of the culture of an organisation and of the robustness of its information governance processes and protocols. As such, care service providers could take steps to establish publication schemes so that certain information is routinely published.”
ENDS
For further information please contact on Ralph Riddiough on tel 0141 226 4942