Charity calls for care workers' pay to increase significantly - Third Force News (TFN)

30 August 2024
by Robert Armour

The sector is facing a recrutiment crisis

Care Support Scotland has made an urgent call to the Scottish Government for more funding in the sector.

The charity says not enough is being done to attract and retain skilled employees in the health and social care sector, which is facing recruitment challenges.

In a letter to the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, the newly re-branded charity has urged the Scottish Government to allocate more funding to support workers’ wages and relieve the increasing pressures service providers face.  

The minimum rate of pay for adult social care workers delivering direct care in Scotland increased from £10.90 to £12 per hour from April 2024. According to data held by Indeed, the average salary for a care worker in Scotland is £11.58 per hour (937 salaries reported, as at 22 July 2024). Care Support Scotland believes this is still too low and is calling upon the government to raise this to a £15 per hour baseline to help the industry attract and retain the quality workers it needs to offer a valuable service across the country.

Jack Rillie, CEO of Care Support Scotland, said: “It’s clear to see that more funding is pivotal in addressing the shortage of quality workers in the sector and their livelihoods. We acknowledge the Scottish Government has budgetary pressures, but much more needs to be done to bring about needed improvements. This will require strong leadership, effective systems, skilled workers, and sustainable investment, which is why we are making this ask of the Scottish Government.

“We are committed to being an active voice in the industry, working to effect real change. Our mission as Care Support Scotland is not only to provide a high quality service, but to become a trusted and valued voice, forging strong ties with local authorities and key influential figures to help drive change across Scotland’s social care sector.”

The charity provides support to people across three main services areas – homelessness, prevention & housing support, learning disabilities & neurodiversity, and older age care. Over the past 12 months, it has supported over a thousand people across Edinburgh and the Lothians.