Future of caring

In focusing on the poorer-performing services in your article article, "Named and shamed: Scots care homes failing OAPs" (26 March) you underplay one of the key messages of the Care Commission's report on social care services in Scotland, which is that care services provided by the voluntary sector achieve a significantly higher proportion of "very good" or "excellent" gradings than the public or private sector in almost all adult care services.

This is significant, as the voluntary sector provides almost 40 per cent of all adult care services across the country.

Voluntary organisations are able to provide these services and achieve these grades at a much lower cost than local authority direct service provision. It is a pity, then, that Community Care Providers Scotland's forthcoming survey of Scotland's largest social care providers (based on the CBI business optimism survey), shows that nearly two-thirds of respondents are less optimistic about the business prospects for their organisation than they were three months ago, and that one in four has seen their volume of business drop in the last quarter.

In times when the twin drivers of the need to make savings and the need to provide the best outcomes possible for individuals are foremost in all our minds, the voluntary sector is well placed to continue its important contribution to the provision of social care and support across Scotland.

KIRSTEN GOODAY

Community Care Providers Scotland

Ellersly Road

Edinburgh