Ask Senga 
Senga will try to answer as many of your Scottish Social Care questions as possible, giving priority to frequently asked questions and questions regarding current events and trends.
Senga Currie is Head of Care Development (Scotland) at QCS, she possesses a strong command of the issues facing the care sector informed by her long career as a registered mental nurse and registered general nurse for 38 years, working in various areas within the NHS, community nursing, the field of addictions and the private sector. With 21 years of experience working with care homes, starting as a nursing sister and moving into roles of home manager, regional manager, care services manager and regulation manager.
Senga will try to answer as many of your questions as possible, giving priority to frequently asked questions and questions regarding current events and trends.
Please note that Senga cannot offer answers to matters requiring legal advice. If your matter concerns a specific service provider, please contact the Care Inspectorate Scotland.
Latest Questions
I work in Care at Home and my employer says I must register with the SSSC, can you tell me how I do this and when this needs to be completed by?
Hello Senga, I am sure you have been asked this previously, but I work in Care at Home and my employer says I must register with the SSSC, can you tell me how I do this and when this needs to be completed by?
Hello Claire, Support workers in care at home and housing support services need to apply for registration by 13th December 2019 to guarantee their application is processed before the mandatory date...
I am registering a Care at Home service with the Care Inspectorate and I have been asked to write Aims and Objectives. Could you help me with this?
Dear Senga, I am registering a Care at Home service with the Care Inspectorate and I have been asked to write Aims and Objectives. Could you help me with this?
Hello June, The Aims and Objectives are unique to each service and therefore they must to be written by the person who is developing the service. I suggest you think of what...
I have started a new role in management, is there any free learning available to help me?
Hi Senga,
I have just started a new role in management, it is the first time I have held such a position. I am keen to develop my skills and wondered if you knew of any free learning, I could access easily to help me?
Hello Christine, We in Scotland are very lucky to have access to free learning in health and social care. One such eLearning tools which will help you has been developed by NES...
Can you advise me on how to implement a service improvement plan for my care home?
Hi Senga, can you advise me on how to implement a service improvement plan for my care home?
The Care Inspectorate said we should have one to demonstrate we have a plan to review and improve our service.
Hello Lisa, If you are a customer of QCS you can use the template Service Improvement Plan in policy SMI09 Mock Inspection Leadership. If not you can refer to this document the...
Can you advise me on a continence issue?
Dear Senga,
Can you advise me on a continence issue? We do toileting rounds and change residents continence aids, however during a recent inspection we were told this was not correct and should be taking residents to the toilet and not solely rely on the aids.
Hello Rebecca, Toileting rounds was a term used many years ago. We no longer use this term for supporting people with meeting their needs and now advocate individual assessment and care...
I am looking for a lawyer expert in social care, can you advise me on what I should do?
Dear Senga,
Thank you for inviting questions. I am looking for a lawyer expert in social care law. I can’t even find a professional social care association.
This would include the law on the powers and responsibilities of care and local authorities.
Can you point me towards some lawyers that would be able to give support?
Dear Ken, I’m afraid I'm unable to directly recommend lawyers to you. However, there is an organisation called Scottish Care which represents the independent sector health and social care providers across...
Can you advise if I can attend courses during my working hours?
Hi Senga, can you advise if I can attend courses during my working hours? I wanted to go to a workshop but have been told by my employer I will have to go on my day off, if this correct?
Hello Charlene, Look at your terms and conditions (employee contract) this will inform you about time off to attend training events. There are courses which are mandatory for your role and...
Should my organisation be paying my fees to retain registration with the SSSC?
Hi Senga,
I am wondering if the organisation I work with should be paying my fees to retain registration with the Scottish Social Services Council, which is payable annually. My friend works for an organisation who do this, should they be paying it?
Hello Fiona, No organisation is liable to pay your registration or re registration fee. Some organisations do decide to pay fees such as NMC or SSSC registration, however this is seen...
How much notice needs to be given when taking holidays during the school break?
Hi Senga,
Can you advise me please I wanted to take my holidays during the school break, and I have been told I can’t as someone else has the time off? I thought as long as I gave enough notice, my holidays are mine to take. How long in law must I give to request holidays?
Hello Jean, There is no hard and fast rule in law for this, but you should check your policy on taking leave. Unfortunately, times like school holidays are very popular and usually...
What dependency tool is suitable to use for Adults with Learning Disabilities?
Hi Senga, I am struggling to find a dependency tool suitable for adults with learning disabilities. We provide support within the supported living model and residential model.
Hello Margaret, I am unsure if you have tried the Augmented IORNS Tool which you can access here. There was an interesting article in the Nursing Times titled, ‘The A-Z Guide of...Partners with the UK's smartest companies
