A quality framework for support services (not care at home)
The primary purpose of this quality framework is to support services to evaluate their own performance. Inspectors then use it to provide independent assurance about the quality of care and support. By setting out what we expect to see in a high-quality service, we can also help support improvement.
We have also produced a set of self-evaluation tools to support services to assess how well they are doing against key areas from our quality framework and highlight where they need to support improved outcomes for people.
- Quality framework for support services (not care at home)
- Self-evaluation tools and guidance for support services
Key Question 1. How well do we support people’s wellbeing?
Quality indicator 1.1: People experience compassion, dignity and respect
Charter for Involvement – ARC Scotland
Children’s human rights – Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland: Seven golden rules for participation and other rights information
Guidance document on human rights charter for technology and digital in social care
Guidance for care providers in Scotland using CCTV (closed circuit television) in their services
Health and Social Care Standards
Information from the Scottish Human Rights Commission: Good practice guides
- Rights, risks and limits to freedom
- Human rights in mental health services
- Covert medication
- Working with the AWI Act,
- Decisions about technology.
Practice guide: Involving children and young people in improving services
Quality indicator 1.2: People get the most out of life
Adult protection and social care
Child Sexual Exploitation: Definition and Practitioner Briefing Paper
Disability Rights UK – doing sports differently
General standards for neurological care and support 2019
Indicators of good practice in drug and alcohol services
Information on supporting people with complex needs and sight loss
Jenny’s Diary – supporting conversations about dementia with people who have a learning disability
Let's get active, connected and included resource
National guidance for child protection in Scotland
Promoting excellence in dementia care (includes people with a learning disability and dementia)
Rights, respect and recovery: alcohol and drug treatment strategy
Scottish recovery network – peer support resources
See Hear – framework for meeting the needs of people with a sensory impairment
Supporting personal relationships
Quality indicator 1.3: People’s health and wellbeing benefits from their care and support
Care of people living with HIV https://hub.careinspectorate.com/media/3865/care-of-people-living-with-hiv-practice-note.pdf
Hospital Passports:
Mental Health Strategy for Scotland
Mental Welfare Commission: Good practice guide - covert medication
Notifications about controlled drugs: guidance for providers (2015)
Prompt – assist – administer medication in care settings
Reset and rebuild: sexual health and blood borne virus services - recovery plan
Resources - Eat Well Age Well: Resources about the prevention, detection and treatment of malnutrition and dehydration amongst older adults living at home in Scotland.
Rights, respect and recovery: alcohol and drug treatment strategy
Safe administration of medication: Modules 1-3 (SSSC)
SCLD Healthy Eating Healthy Living Pack
Supporting psychological wellbeing in adults with learning disabilities – an educational framework
Trauma informed practice – National trauma training plan and resources
You are our eyes and ears: Pocket guide supporting consistent monitoring and identifying changes in wellbeing.
Quality Indicator 1.4: People are getting the right service for them
Health and Social Care Standards
Mental Welfare Commission: Supported decision making
Principles of good transitions 3: Scottish Transitions Forum, including the autism and life shortening conditions supplements.
Self-directed support guidance
Self-directed support implementation plan
Supporting and empowering Scotland’s citizens: National action plan for technology enabled care.
Understanding personal outcomes
Quality indicator 1.5: People's health and wellbeing is supported and safeguarded by infection, prevention and control practices
Communication for people with sensory loss during the Covid-19 pandemic: advice for health and social care staff.
Covid-19: information and guidance for social, community and residential care settings
HAI Compendium Guidance and resources
Healthcare Improvement Scotland: Infection prevention and control standards
Key measures for infection prevention and control: A guide for social care workers providing care in an individual’s home.
National infection prevention and control manual (NIPCM)
Records services (except childminding) must keep and guidance on notification reporting
Key Question 2. How good is our leadership?
Quality indicator 2.1: Vision and values inform practice
Guidance for providers and applicants on aims and objectives
SSSC: Welcome To Step Into Leadership
TURAS Leadership and Management Programmes
Quality Indicator 2.2: Quality assurance and improvement is led well
Adults with incapacity: template policy for adult services
Care Experience Improvement Model (CEIM)
Learning from adverse events through reporting and review: A national framework for Scotland 2019
Model for Improvement and associated resources
National Occupational Standards (NOS)
NES Quality improvement learning and tools
SCLD– Using scrutiny to drive outcomes and associated resources
SSSC: Leadership development activities
Quality indicator 2.3: Leaders collaborate to support people
Guide to the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR)
Information Commissioner’s guide to data protection, including GDPR
Quality indicator 2.4: Staff are led well
Achieving effective supervision
Guidance on development of policy and procedure
Everyday leadership from the frontline
SSSC: Welcome To Step Into Leadership
SSSC: Leadership Development Activities
Key Question 3. How good is our staff team?
Quality indicator 3.1: Staff have been well recruited
National Safer Recruitment Guidance
Values based recruitment toolkit
The national health and social care workforce plan: part two
Quality Indicator 3.2: Staff have the right knowledge, competence and development to support people
Achieving effective supervision – IRISS insight
Codes of Practice for Social Service Workers and Employers
Common Core Skills and National Occupational Standards
Frequently asked questions about SSSC registration
Employer responsibilities–supporting staff with registration
Prepping for practice – induction guidance 3.2
Safe Staffing Programme
SSSC and NES social care induction framework
The Framework for Continuous Learning in Social Services
Transforming Psychological Trauma: A Knowledge and Skills Framework for the Scottish Workforce
Quality Indicator 3.3: Staffing arrangements are right and staff work well together
Assessment of staffing guidance: non-premises-based services
Health and Care Staffing in Scotland
Key Question 4. How good is our setting?
Quality indicator 4.1: People benefit from high quality facilities
Health and Safety Executive information
Living in the community: Housing design for adults with autism:
Preventing Infection in Social Care
Psychologically informed environments
Safe management of the care environment
The King’s Fund: Developing supportive design for people with dementia:
Quality Indicator 4.2: The setting promotes people’s independence and inclusion
Care about physical activity programme
Dementia: developing community links
Dementia-friendly environments
Dementia-friendly health and social care environments
Learning disabilities and behaviour that challenges: service design and delivery
Rights, Risks and Limits to Freedom Good Practice Guide
The keys to life: Scotland’s learning disability strategy
Key Question 5. How well is our care planned?
Quality indicator 5.1: Assessment and personal planning reflects people’s outcomes and wishes
Anticipatory care planning toolkit
Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014
Helen Sanderson: Person centred support planning information
Mental Welfare Commission guidance
- personal plans
- advance statements
- power of attorney
- supported decision making
Personal planning guides for providers
Scottish Independent Advocacy Alliance – companion guidelines
Talking points – joint improvement team
Think local act personal – personalised care and support planning tool
Understanding Personal Outcomes
Quality indicator 5.2: Carers, friends and family members are encouraged to be involved
Carers Trust: Triangle of care - carers included
Health and Social Care Standards
Mental Welfare Commission: Carers and Confidentiality good practice guide:
We held a webinar on 21 April 2023 for people working in support services (not care at home). The webinar explained the changes made within the updated Quality framework for support services (not care at home), and also introduced staff to the self-evaluation toolkit which had emerged from the learnings of our previous work on Covid-19 Self-evaluation toolkit for key question 7 and from discussions with services and inspectors.
Quality improvement programmes and topics
Quality improvement activity led by the Care Inspectorate, including recent practice resources and initiatives
Adult day care
Support services offered within a care home, centre or directly in the community can help people who need support, or simply company and friendship
Adults and older people
An overview of major developments in policy areas relating to services for adults and older people