On a winter morning in Lanarkshire, Mary waits for her homecare worker to arrive. That knock on the door is more than routine – it is the sound of dignity, independence, and human connection. Yet for thousands like Mary, this lifeline is under threat. As Scotland heads into an election, we face a stark choice: will social care remain the poor relation of public policy, or will we finally recognise it as the cornerstone of a fair society?
For too long, social care has been treated as a cost to contain rather than an investment to cherish. The consequences are visible everywhere: care homes closing their doors, homecare visits squeezed into 15-minute slots, and exhausted staff leaving for better-paid jobs elsewhere. Behind these headlines are real lives, families desperate for placements, older people stuck in hospital because there is nowhere for them to go, and workers who feel undervalued despite doing one of the most important jobs in Scotland. This is not inevitable. It is the result of political choices. And it is time those choices changed.
Scottish Care’s 2025 Manifesto, Care Creates, offers a vision that should inspire every party. It calls for fair pay and career progression for care workers, investment in technology that serves people rather than bureaucracy, and commissioning models that prioritise dignity over penny-pinching. It reframes care as infrastructure, as essential to health, the economy, and community resilience. This is not radical; it is common sense.
Imagine a Scotland where care homes are vibrant hubs of community life, not symbols of decline. Where homecare visits allow time for conversation, not just tasks. Where digital tools free staff to spend more time with people, not screens. These are achievable goals but only if we have the courage to act.
The political backdrop is messy, with parties point-scoring and funding gaps are huge. But the election offers a moment of clarity. Every manifesto will talk about fairness, wellbeing, and community. Social care is where those words become reality or ring hollow. Investment is not charity; it is strategy. Every pound spent on care reduces hospital admissions, supports jobs, and strengthens families. Yet the true cost of care remains unfunded. Closing these gaps is not optional; it is the price of a system that works.
But to truly put social care at the heart of Scotland’s future, we must go further. We need to see social care as a driver of innovation and sustainability. Our sector is already pioneering green initiatives, embedding human rights, and investing in local economies. The Care Creates campaign is about more than funding – it’s about reimagining care as a foundation for a just, resilient, and compassionate society. This means supporting our workforce with fair pay, robust training, and recognition equal to that of NHS colleagues. It means ethical commissioning that values relationships and continuity, not just cost. And it means listening to the voices of those who deliver and receive care every day.
The reality for many care workers is stark: lower pay, fewer benefits, and less security than their counterparts in health. This disparity is not just unfair – it is unsustainable. If we want to attract and retain skilled, compassionate people, we must offer them respect, opportunity, and a real career path. The pandemic showed us the vital role of social care, but applause and promises are not enough. We need action and we need it now.
This is my challenge to Scotland’s politicians: stop treating social care as an afterthought. Make it central to your vision for the nation. Commit to sustainable funding, ethical commissioning, and parity of esteem for care workers. Recognise that social care is not a drain on resources but a driver of wellbeing and economic resilience.
Mary’s quiet morning should not be a privilege; it should be a promise. A promise that, whatever our age or circumstance, we will be cared for with dignity, respect, and compassion. That is not just good policy – it is who we are as a nation.
Professor Donald Macaskill
CEO, Scottish Care
