A “listening forum” focusing on constituents’ experiences of social care is being hosted next week by Michael Shanks MP.
It will bring together service users, carers, charities and support organisations for discussions and to share views, leading to the compliation of an anonymised report which will be “brought to the attention of decision makers”.
The Rutherglen representative says the event has been arranged in response to “dozens of complex pieces of casework” which he has dealt with in his 18 months in the constituency, and “reflects on the wider alarm felt by many about the state of social care across Scotland”.
Participants will be able to share their experiences of social care services, hear from other people and groups including self-directed support organisation Take Ctrl South Lanarkshire, council advice service Money Matters, local older people’s organisation LEAP and Lanarkshire Carers.
The event takes place at St Columbkille’s church hall on Kirkwood Street in Rutherglen on Thursday, February 20, from 3.30pm to 5.30pm, and those with lived experience of the social care system and carers are invited to take part in the discussion event.
Anyone wishing to share their experiences but who is unable to attend the event is invited to contact Mr Shanks’ constituency office, with the MP saying: “I want to hear about your experiences of using services – what works and what are the challenges – and will write about your experiences in a report that I will give to people who are designing and delivering services.”
Mr Shanks told Lanarkshire Live: “Social care is a vital service that touches all of our lives but we know for far too many people it is a daily struggle to access the support they need.
“We all want to see the highest standards of care and accessibility to make sure everyone can live safely and with dignity, but unfortunately my inbox is full of people desperate for help navigating this system, and it’s clear it’s not working for everyone.
“This forum is an opportunity for people to share their own experiences, to be heard and to have their perspectives shared with those who make key decisions about social care in Scotland.”
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