Davidson Chalmers Stewart has extensive experience in the social care sector, having worked with clients in this area for over 25 years. 

Our client base includes publicly funded care homes, privately funded care homes, care at home organisations, nursing homes, supported living and retirement communities.

We are proud to work with Scottish Care on their Legal Resources Select group, providing advice to Scottish Care members across Scotland. 

Regulatory – we have experience of dealing with most of the Scottish regulators, including the Care Inspectorate and the HSE/environmental health.  Our lawyers know their way around the criminal justice system and provide valuable insight and support to clients who rarely encounter investigations with the possibility of criminal prosecution and who find the experience confusing and threatening. We have significant experience representing clients through the prosecution process up to, and including, trials before a jury, with an experienced solicitor advocate on the team. If you need advice on navigating the criminal justice system, you can read our short guide here.

Data Protection – many organisations find data protection and GDPR compliance very challenging.  Laura Irvine, Head of the Davidson Chalmers Stewart Data Protection Team, is a Law Society of Scotland Accredited Specialist in Freedom of Information and Data Protection Law. The team is also experienced in advising on cyber security law. 

Charity and Third Sector - as well as being subject to the normal rigours of commercial life charities and the third sector are also subject to an additional regulatory regime.  Typically they will have to work with a disparate range of public and private stakeholders and will be reliant on volunteers at varying levels of the organisation from the Board down.  We have experience of working with several charities involved in the care sector.

Corporate - the organisations we work with range from large corporate interests including private equity investors through to charities and more modest independent operators.  The sector is heavily regulated and full of pitfalls for the uninitiated.  Our Corporate Team provides specialist advice to the Sector to ensure that whether you are selling, purchasing or investing you avoid those pitfalls.

Real Estate - having suitable, compliant premises is essential for Care Home operators in particular. The Real Estate Team provides expertise in Planning, Construction, Property, Leasing, Secured Lending and Environmental Law.  Just as acquiring, selling or investing in an operating business is full of pitfalls for the uninitiated, so acquiring an operating property asset is similarly complex and needs specialist advice.

Dispute Resolution - inevitably from time to time Social Care organisations become involved in disputes of various types.  These can be highly stressful times and can bring very significant pressures to bear on management and staff.  In some cases that can also impact on customers as well.  Our Dispute Resolution Team are experts in resolving disputes, giving pragmatic, strategic advice to clients on how to navigate what can be a very difficult and unknown experience.

Employment - large numbers of people are employed in the Social Care sector often performing difficult roles on minimum wage incomes.  Contentious employment issues can flare up very quickly and require immediate guidance.  Providing speedy, sensible advice can be key to ensuring that a short-term problem does not grow into something more substantial.  Our Employment Team advises organisations on the full range of employment issues, often working hand in hand with Human Resources departments and/or Human Resources Consultants.