Keynote Session 2: A National Care Service – Enabling Everyone to Flourish

Many of the issues facing social care were present before the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.  However, COVID-19 highlighted the need for fundamental change.
 
Kevin Stewart, MSP, Minister for Mental Wellbeing and Social Care, will outline plans to make Scotland’s social care system one of the best in the world - enabling everyone in Scotland to reach their potential, regardless of their circumstances and putting the needs, rights and preferences of users at the centre of all our decision-making.
 
The establishment of a National Care Service is at the centre of a bold package of measures to improve the system for those who rely on it, and those who work in it. The radical redesign of the system will place human rights, equity and equality at the heart of social care delivery.
 
The session will also hear from people who rely on social care support and how a new way of delivering social care will improve their lives. Join this session to hear Marion McArdle, the mother of a woman with complex care needs, the Minister for Mental wellbeing and social care Kevin Stewart and the Director of Mental Health and Social Care Donna Bell in conversation with Pennie Taylor.

Speakers

Donna Bell

Director of Social Care & NCS Development, Scottish Government


Donna is Director of Social Care and National Care Service Development at Scottish Government.

Humza Yousaf MSP

Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, Scottish Government


Humza Yousaf was previously Minister for Transport and the Islands, and was appointed Cabinet Secretary for Justice in June 2018.

Marion McArdle

Lived experience participant, PAMIS


Marion McArdle is married with 3 grown up daughters. Her eldest daughter, Laura is 37 years old. Laura was born with Down’s Syndrome and then a year later suffered severe brain damage following a heart operation.

Kevin Stewart MSP

Minister for Mental Wellbeing and Social Care, Scottish Government


Before Kevin's election to the Scottish Parliament, he was previously the Depute Leader of Aberdeen City Council and served as a local councillor for more than eleven years. As a councillor, he chaired the Finance and Resources Committee and the North East of Scotland's Regional Transport Partnership, NESTRANS.