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
Do you offer support in the care inspectorate registration process or just in the running of the service?
Hi Senga,
Do you offer support in the care inspectorate registration process or just in the running of the service
Hi Pete We can support you with the policies, procedures and compliance tools for registration and the whole service provision, why don’t you take advantage of a free trial and see...
What is a SSSC?
What is SSSC?
Hello Gary SSSC stands for Scottish Social Services Council. They are the regulator for the social care workforce in Scotland. If you are working in health and social care you will most...
Hi Senga, I am employed privately to take care of a gentleman in his own home. The money is paid through SDS by the local council. I have been told I have to register for the SSSC. Is this correct? I was led to believe I didn’t because it was through SDS. But also because of the part time hours I work, (17.5pw) that it would qualify me for a Student something or other. I’m 64 by the way. Could you clarify this for me?? Register or not to register?
Hi Senga, I am employed privately to take care of a gentleman in his own home. The money is paid through SDS by the local council. I have been told I have to register for the SSSC. Is this correct? I was led to believe I didn’t because it was through SDS. But also because of the part-time hours I work, (17.5pw) that it would qualify me for a Student something or other. I’m 64 by the way. Could you clarify this for me?? Register or not to register? Thanks
Hello Dawn The answer to registration is yes you must register with the SSSC. It doesn’t matter if you are full or part-time and if you work via SDS all social care...
I want to start my own care agency, would you please point me in the right direction in terms of registration and compliance
I want to start my own care agency, would you please point me in the right direction in terms of registration and compliance
Hello Joseph Yes, I can point you in the right direction with this. There is lots of information and guidance on the Care Inspectorates website, which you can access here: https://www.careinspectorate.com/index.php/register-a-care-service. Please ensure...
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...Partners with the UK's smartest companies
