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
One of our service users refuses to take her medication. We put it in chocolates as her relative told us this is how she took it. At our inspection the service was given a requirement saying it is covert medication. Can you advise?
Hi Senga,
One of our service users refuses to take her medication. We put it in chocolates as her relative told us this is how she took it.
At our inspection the service was given a requirement saying it is covert medication. Can you advise?
Hello Janey, The regulator is correct, it is covert medication and therefore best practice guidance must be followed. Please see this document. After reading the guidance, follow the steps and processes, it...
We received a complaint at our service and the person was not happy with the outcome after the investigation and threatened to go to the Care Inspectorate. Will this mean they will come out and investigate and drop our grades?
Hi Senga,
We received a complaint at our service and the person was not happy with the outcome after the investigation and threatened to go to the Care Inspectorate. Will this mean they will come out and investigate and drop our grades?
Hello Lorraine, No, it doesn’t mean that at all. The person can complain to the regulator at any time or even without coming to the provider. The Care Inspectorate do try...
Do I need to register with the Care Inspectorate when opening a day care in an annex of our care home?
Dear Senga,
I am thinking of opening a day care in an annex of our care home as there are no such services in our area. Will I have to ask the Care Inspectorate, or can I arrange this myself, I was told by a colleague the Care Inspectorate would need to know.
Hello Anne, Your colleague is correct, you would need to go through the registration process with the Care Inspectorate to open and operate a day care service. Unlike England, day care...
Can you give me some advice on Self Directed Support?
Hi Senga, can you give me some advice on Self Directed Support please? I am unsure what it means for the people in our care.
Dear Dawn, The Social Care (Self-Directed Support)(Scotland) Act 2013 came into force in April 2014, the core values of inclusion, contribution and empowerment through real choice and respect are at the...
What are Open Badges?
Dear Senga, I have heard of Open Badges can you tell me about them as I would like to expand my learning.
Hi Jill, Yes of course. The SSSC issue Open Badges to recognise continuous and informal learning. You can collect, manage and share evidence of your learning in today’s digital world. You can...
Can you advise me on what incidents I must report to the Care Inspectorate?
Hi Senga,
Can you advise me on what incidents I must report to the Care Inspectorate please?
Hello Leo, Yes, I can help with that. The Care Inspectorate provide detailed list and if you click here that will take to you a document which has all the information...
I have recently completed my induction in my first post as a carer and I am now a key worker, what extra duties does this involve?
Dear Senga,
I have recently completed my induction in my first post as a carer and I am now a key worker. I’m not sure of the extra duties this involves, can you explain?
Dear Rose, Every Service User will be allocated a “Key worker”. Their function is to take a social interest in that person, developing opportunities and activities for them, and in conjunction...
Can you signpost me to training for my staff on the Duty of Candour?
Hi Senga, can you signpost me to training for my staff on the Duty of Candour please?
Hello Ruby, You will find free E learning training by clicking this link. Remember to include this information in your annual report. I hope this helps. Senga 
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...Partners with the UK's smartest companies
