The Department of Social Care has been holding a programme of meetings over the last month at venues all around the Island to give relevant organisations and individuals an opportunity to learn more about the proposed new Regulation of Care Bill.
This Bill is intended to ensure that care services on the Island are properly regulated so that the public and service users can be confident in the quality of these vital care services. Care services consist of social care (provided by the Department of Social Care, and the private and third sectors) and non-NHS health care services.
The Department recognises that a number of organisations from the third sector (comprising not-for-profit organisations such as charities) are expanding the services they provide to meet different needs across the Island and want to ensure all third sector organisations have the opportunity to find out further information about the Bill. Therefore there will be a meeting with the third sector on Wednesday 9th May from 6pm to 7.30 pm at the Scholl Training Room, St John Ambulance Headquarters at Glencrutchery Road, Douglas.
The Minister for Social Care Hon Chris Robertshaw MHK said: “It is encouraging that so many people have engaged in the consultation process to date. I am very keen that this continues and that we hear from not only those currently providing services but also those who may provide services in the future. May I take this opportunity to encourage all such organisations to comment and to attend the consultation event if possible.”
The Director of Communications at the Isle of Man Council of Voluntary Organisations (CVO) David Gawne said: “Many of our members currently provide a range of care services within the Island. We also, both individually and collectively, have a responsibility to protect the more vulnerable members of our society. We therefore welcome the introduction of this new Bill which will strengthen existing legislation in order to ensure more effective regulation of care services in the community.
This is something the CVO has been advocating for many years. We also welcome the wide consultation which is taking place to ensure that the proposed measures are proportionate and appropriate to local need. To this end we would urge all members of the third sector, whether service providers or not, to join us on Wednesday 9th May. In addition, we extend a warm welcome to our colleagues from the private sector who also provide or are interested in providing care services to attend.”
If organisations cannot make the meeting on 9th May then there is a further public drop-in session taking place at Douglas Library, Victoria Street on Tuesday 15th May 2012 between noon and 3pm. Members of the public and businesses are welcome to call in and ask questions about how the new Bill will change the regulation of care services on the Island.
The public consultation is now over halfway through and ends on 25th May 2012. Regular updates will be posted on the Department of Social Care Website (www.gov.im/socialcare).
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