Supporting safe, effective and person‑centred care across Perth and Kinross.
Our practice guidance brings together the key national and local standards that support safe, consistent and high‑quality care across all services within the Perth and Kinross Health and Social Care Partnership.
This section reflects the shared contribution of health, social work, and social care professionals, supporting integrated practice and collaborative decision‑making across services.
Our approach recognises the importance of a holistic, person‑centred model of care, supporting professionals to respond to people's physical, emotional and social needs.
National practice guidance
We align with nationally recognised guidance to ensure best practice across health and social care.
Professionals can access evidence‑based guidance from organisations such as the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN), NICE, and Healthcare Improvement Scotland which provide recommendations for clinical care, treatment and service delivery.
We also work in line with Scottish Government frameworks and national standards that support integrated care, quality, and safety.
Scottish government and specialist national guidelines
Professionals may also need to refer to national frameworks and condition‑specific guidance endorsed by Scottish Government or national networks.
Examples include:
- Frailty standards and toolkits (Ageing & Frailty National Standards)
- National stroke guidelines (National Advisory Committee for Stroke)
- Perinatal mental health guidelines (SIGN, 2023)
- Respiratory care action plan (Scottish Government) linked through NICE & SIGN respiratory pathways
Social work and social care practice guidance
Alongside clinical guidance, we provide access to guidance that supports social work and social care practice, including statutory responsibilities and decision‑making frameworks.
Key areas include:
- Adult Support and Protection frameworks
- Children and Families procedures
- Self‑directed Support (SDS) guidance
- Social work assessment and risk‑enablement approaches
- Safeguarding and multi‑agency working practices
These resources support professionals to work in a rights‑based, person‑centred and strengths‑based way, helping individuals to achieve the best possible outcomes.
Local clinical pathways and protocols
Alongside national guidelines, we provide locally agreed protocols that reflect our services, pathways and multi‑disciplinary practice in Perth and Kinross.
These may include:
- local clinical decision pathways
- referral and escalation guidance
- service‑specific procedures
- medication management protocols
- infection prevention and control standards
Social work and social care resources
A range of dedicated learning and practice resources are available to support social work and social care professionals.
You can access practice tools, learning opportunities and communities of practice through:
- Practice Learning Hub on PK Learning & Development
- Community of Practice resources on PK Learning & Development
- Sensory Awareness training and resources on PK Learning & Development
- HSCP Social Work and Social Care Toolkit on PK Learning & Development (requires a password)
- World Social Work Day resources and events on PK Learning & Development
You can also explore career pathways and development opportunities through Jobs and careers in health and social care.
Professional and regulatory organisations
We signpost to key national organisations that support professional standards, regulation and development across health and social care.
These include:
- Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC)
- Care Inspectorate
- National Social Work Agency
- British Association of Social Workers (BASW)
- Social Work Scotland
These organisations provide guidance, standards, and resources that support safe, effective and ethical practice.
