Care Creates… Value through investment.
Scottish Care is calling for a social care system that is funded like it truly matters.
Social care is not only vital in meeting the needs of people who draw on support – it is also a powerful economic driver within Scotland. The sector operates across every community, employs a predominantly female workforce, and includes a high proportion of family‑owned and locally rooted organisations. When social care is properly funded, it provides stability for individuals and families, strengthens local economies, and creates skilled jobs and long‑term investment opportunities.
Evidence shows that investment in social care delivers real value. For every £1 invested, social care generates significant socio‑economic benefit – strengthening communities while reducing pressure on public services. Closing the current funding gap and ensuring contracts reflect the true cost of care would unlock substantial benefits for people, the workforce, and Scotland’s wider economy.
Treating care as essential public infrastructure – rather than a short‑term cost – creates the conditions for stability, innovation and long‑term planning. Transparent commissioning, fair funding, and multi‑year investment enable care providers to focus on delivering person‑led support that upholds dignity, choice and connection, while supporting sustainable public finances.
Care creates value through investment. Funding care properly recognises its profound importance to individuals, families and communities – and strengthens Scotland’s social and economic foundations for the future.
Our manifesto asks include:
- Ring‑fenced funding for social care, ensuring financial stability and consistent support for individuals and families.
- Transparent and collaborative commissioning, procurement and negotiation, building on learning from ethical commissioning approaches.
- Multi‑year budgeting arrangements, including capital investment, to support long‑term planning, innovation and parity across health and social care.
- An end to the commissioning of 15‑minute care at home and housing support visits, enabling true person‑led care that delivers greater social and economic benefit.
- Regular review and evaluation of funding strategies, co‑designed with people who draw on care, families and care professionals, to ensure investment reflects changing community needs and the real value of care.
Sustainable funding is the foundation of a resilient care system. When care is funded fairly and transparently, it creates dignity for people, stability for the workforce, stronger communities and better outcomes for Scotland as a whole.
For more on the manifesto and Scottish Care’s proposals for investing in care like it matters, read the full manifesto:
https://scottishcare.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Scottish-Care-Manifesto-2025.pdf
#CareCreates
