Adult social care touches all our lives, yet the public story we tell often focusses on crisis. That makes it harder to build the understanding and support Scotland needs for long-term change.
Reframing Public Perceptions of Social Care brings together evidence, lived experience and practice insight to develop clearer, more constructive narratives about what social care is, why it matters and how it enables people and communities to thrive. Our vision is a Scotland where social care is recognised as part of the public infrastructure we all rely on.
This site shares our insights, tools and updates as we work with partners to shift the conversation.
Our vision
At its heart, social care and support is about the right to dignity, fairness and justice. It reflects our collective belief that everyone – regardless of age, ability or circumstance – has the right to live with respect and with the support needed to be able to have a good life.
It’s a reflection of how we value each other as human beings.
Social care support exists because life is unpredictable. Illness and disability can affect anyone. Ageing affects us all. A strong social care support system stops people from falling through the cracks, and from becoming isolated and vulnerable.
Social care in all its forms provides scaffolding that can support each of us at times in life when we need it most. It offers practical help, emotional support and a sense of community. It empowers people to live independently, stay connected, and maintain their quality of life.
It’s about making sure no-one is left behind, no matter age, health or circumstance.
We are calling on a future Scotland where getting the right support, care and assistance when we need it is not a privilege but a right, and is an expected part of helping everyone to have a good life. We want a future where we invest in people not just systems, because when we care for each other, we all grow stronger.
Our contribution
People tell us that they find it hard to talk about adult social care and support. The current narrative is based on crisis and pain, not support and wellbeing.
Evidence shows that a key part of transforming is being able to tell a different story about the world as it is, and the world as we want it to be. This is called framing.
We work with stakeholders across Scotland, be they citizens, service providers, decision makers or communities, to give them the tools they need to talk differently about adult social care and support.
We are not trying to brush the problems under the carpet. We know too many people are being failed by the current system. But we also believe that by talking consistently about the changes we need to see, and about what social care does at its best, we are most likely to support the transformation of adult social care and help embed a new vision in all parts of Scotland.