The seminars will aim to dispel doubts and anxiety over the new system and will provide an opportunity to put questions directly to members of the Scottish Commission for the Regulation of Care. The seminars are taking place in each of the Care Commission's regional areas. The Scottish Social Services Council has also indicated that it will send representatives to the five seminars.
The demand for seminars to clarify issues arising from the new standards, particularly from local authorities, has been overwhelming, according to Kay Jackson who runs the 'Rolling Out the Standards' project with Lynne Murray. The Care Commission has taken over registration and inspection from local authorities, but councils have retained responsibility for training and development.
'If the project were to provide seminars for each request made, these would take until around summer 2004 to fully complete,' said Ms Jackson. The one-year project, which is funded by the Scottish Executive, was set up by the Scottish Childminding Association with a brief to work with other childcare organisations to help providers cope with the changes to care standards.
Other organisations involved include the Scottish Out of School Care Network, the Scottish Independent Nurseries Association, the Scottish Pre-School Play Association, Play Scotland, the National Playbus Association and the National Association of Toy and Leisure Libraries.
Ms Jackson said the project had encountered some difficulties in contacting local authority nurseries because of 'data protection issues', but was now sending information to council chief executives so they can disseminate it to relevant organisations. 'However, if any nurseries want to contact us directly about the new standards, we would be pleased to hear from them,'
she said.
Apart from the seminars, the project is in the process of producing 14 factsheets to deal with some of the concerns which have arisen during a series of focus group meetings with providers.
Ms Jackson said that some providers were worried about the new process of self-evaluation and the closer involvement of parents and children in running the service. In the past, providers were subject to local authority inspection. However, from 1 April this year, providers will face an initial inspection by a representative from the Care Commission, who will check that the new standards are understood and will discuss targets for the following year.
Ms Jackson said, 'If there are concerns about a particular provider, the Care Commission will help draw up an action plan, highlighting ways improvements can be made, and a timescale for their implementation.'
She said local authorities were clearly keen to ensure the new standards are understood. Previously, the regulation of childcare providers was 'a patchwork of different systems'.
She added, 'For the first time, all registered childcare providers will be required to meet the same standards, which should ensure consistency and quality of care.
'The Rolling Out the Standards project has its work cut out for the next year, as there are more than 30,000 childcare providers throughout Scotland to reach out to.
'We are confident, however, that the work being done by the project will help these providers deal with the changes in a positive way and with confidence.'
