A quality framework for housing support services

Last updated: 3 May 2026

The primary purpose of this quality framework is to support services to evaluate their own performance.  It is then used by inspectors to provide independent assurance about the quality of care and support.  By setting out what we expect to see in a high-quality service, we can also help support improvement. 

Key improvement resources

Quality indicator 1.1: People experience compassion, dignity and respect 

Charter for Involvement:  Arc Scotland 

Children’s human rights – Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland: Seven golden rules for participation and other rights information 

Guidance for care providers in Scotland using CCTV (closed circuit television) in their services 

Health and Social Care Standards 

Human rights charter for technology and digital in social care - Guidance document  

Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) standards for Scotland 

Mental Welfare Commission 

  • Rights, risks and limits to freedom 

  • Human rights in mental health services 

  • Covert medication 

  • Working with the AWI Act,  

  • Decisions about technology.  

Practice guide: Involving children and young people in improving services 

Scottish Recovery Consortium 

World Health Organisation: Quality rights:
Promoting the rights of people with mental health conditions, psychosocial, intellectual, and cognitive disabilities 

Scottish Human Rights Commission:  Good practice guide  

Quality indicator 1.2: People get the most out of life 

Autism strategy for Scotland 

Community Justice outcomes performance improvement framework  

Equally safe:  
Scotland’s strategy to prevent and eradicate violence against woman and girls 
General standards for neurological care and support 

Guidance on the delivery of restorative justice in Scotland 

National guidance for child protection in Scotland 

Quality Principles - Standard expectations of care and support in drug and alcohol services  

Scottish recovery network – peer support resources 

See Hear – framework for meeting the needs of people with a sensory impairment  

The Keys to Life

Women’s Aid Scotland:  National service standards and assessment criteria 

Wellness recovery action plan    

Quality indicator 1.3: People’s health and wellbeing benefits from their care and support  

Alcohol related brain damage  

Care of people living with HIV 

Domestic abuse act (Scotland) 2018 

Indicators of good practice in drug and alcohol services 

Mental Health Strategy for Scotland  

Naloxone in homelessness services 

Naloxone guidance for social care services 

National strategy for community justice 

Notifications about controlled drugs: guidance for providers (2015) 

Quality Principles - Standard Expectations of care and support in drug and alcohol services 

Reset and rebuild: sexual health and blood borne virus services - recovery plan 

Resources - Eat Well Age Well:  
Resources about the prevention, detection and treatment of malnutrition and dehydration amongst older adults living at home in Scotland. 

Rights, respect and recovery: alcohol and drug treatment strategy  

Safe administration of medication: Modules 1-3  

SCLD Healthy Eating Healthy Living Pack  

Sexual health and blood borne virus framework 2015-2020 

Supporting psychological wellbeing in adults with learning disabilities – an educational framework 

Trauma informed practice – National trauma training plan and resources 

Quality indicator 1.4: People are getting the right service for them 

Good practice note in commissioning specialist domestic abuse services 

Mental Welfare Commission:  Supported decision making 

Principles of good transitions 3:  
Scottish Transitions Forum, including the autism and life shortening conditions supplements. 

Self-directed support for housing support practitioners 

Self-directed support implementation plan  

Youth homelessness prevention pathway 

Understanding personal outcomes: SSSC  

Quality indicator 1.5: People's health and wellbeing is supported and safeguarded by infection, prevention and control practices 

Care Inspectorate notification guidance 

Clinical guidance for care at home, housing support and sheltered housing 

Covid-19 guidance for homelessness settings 

Covid-19 guidance for non-healthcare settings (Health Protection Scotland) 

Covid-19 guidance on individual risk assessments for the workplace 

Covid-19 information and guidance for social, community and residential care settings 

Covid-19 learning materials for health and social care staff 

Guidance on contingency planning for people who use drugs and Covid-19  

Guidance on prevention and control of clostridium difficile infection (CDI) in health and social care settings in Scotland   

Healthcare Improvement Scotland: Infection prevention and control standards  

Housing support enabling unit Covid-19 information and resources  

Information on ‘Near Me’ video consulting 

Key measures for infection prevention and control: A guide for social care workers providing care in an individual’s home. 

National infection prevention and control manual (NICPM) 

NICPM Covid-19 compendium NIPCM winter 21/22 respiratory infections addendum 

Public Health England report on disparities in the risk and outcomes of Covid-19  

Report on the learning and experiences of people involved in the planning and delivery of social care services during the pandemic 

Records services (except cm) must keep and guidance on notification reporting  

Staff guidance, wellbeing and learning resources: SSSC