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Digital Mindset Session – Fully Funded Opportunity

The Digitally Enabled Workforce (DEW) team at NHS Education for Scotland has an upcoming opportunity – Digital Mindset Sessions. This fully funded opportunity is open to those in board-level roles across health and care organisations in Scotland (including executives, non-executives, trustees, elected members), see information below. More information can also be found on the Leading in the Digital Age Board Development site or for any other questions, or specific requests please contact the team direct by email at [email protected].

Spaces are available from April to June.

DigitalMindsetSessionInfo
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International Recruitment in Social Care Survey Findings

Survey Reveals Urgent Concerns Over International Recruitment in Social Care 

Scottish Care, the representative body for independent social care providers in Scotland, has conducted a survey revealing significant challenges faced by care providers in recruiting and retaining internationally recruited staff. The findings shed light on the potential risks to social care service delivery across Scotland due to recent decisions by the Home Office regarding international recruitment pathways.

The survey was initiated in response to Scottish Care member reports regarding increasing difficulties in international recruitment. The Home Office’s decision to request additional documentation and communication issues exacerbated concerns among care providers, particularly around Certificates of Sponsorship.

Data gathered from the survey revealed several key insights:

  • Over 66% of Scottish Care members are currently recruiting staff from overseas, indicating a heavy reliance on international recruitment pathways.
  • However, 68% of respondents expressed reluctance to consider international recruitment in the future, due to concerns over sustainability and financially viability.
  • Respondents from 14 Local Authority areas indicate that care providers employ over 15% of staff from overseas, with 7 areas reporting over 25%.
  • Alarmingly, some care providers reported between 95 – 100% of staff being internationally recruited, posing significant risks to service sustainability.

These findings highlight a serious concern over the sustainability of social care delivery in Scotland. The potential loss of internationally recruited staff could intensify the existing vacancy challenges and impact overall service provision.

Scottish Care urges policymakers to address the urgent issues facing social care recruitment. Immediate action is needed to protect social care service provision and support the sector’s workforce.

Scottish Care has prepared a Briefing Paper for the International Recruitment Survey Findings, which is available here.

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Highland Care Home wins best traditional Shortbread competition

In a heartwarming victory for tradition and taste, David Macdonald, head chef at Crossreach Oversteps Care Home in Dornoch, clinched first place in the best traditional shortbread category at the recent Highland Shortbread Showdown. What makes this win even sweeter is that David achieved this feat using his grandmother’s cherished 80-year-old heirloom recipe.

Oversteps Care Home, represented by David, was the only care home in the competition,  making the win all the more remarkable.

The Manager from Oversteps said “we’re all really pleased with how well David did in the competition.  Oversteps was the only care home represented there, so it was a real boost”

Congratulations to David and the entire team at Oversteps Care Home for this well-deserved recognition!

Find out more about the Highland Showdown here: Businesses Triumph in Highland Shortbread Showdown | The Highland Times

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Oakbridge Care Home – Afternoon Tea with Horses

Oakbridge Bridge Care Home in Glasgow recently had a truly memorable experience—they enjoyed tea with a special guest, a horse, courtesy of the remarkable charity, RDA Glasgow Group. It was an immersive afternoon that left a lasting impression on everyone present.

The gentlemen at Oakbridge fully embraced this unique sensory experience with Jake, the gentle and intuitive horse. They expressed their heartfelt gratitude to the dedicated volunteers for their kindness and hospitality. The participants left feeling elated, calm, and truly in awe of big Jake.

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Global Workforce Report Launched

The National Care Forum (NCF) in collaboration with the Global Ageing Network, Scottish Care and UKRI has published a report resulting from the Social Care International Workforce Summit held as part of the Global Ageing Conference last year.  

The report’s publication also marks NCF CEO Professor Vic Rayner as the new board chair of the Global Ageing Network, a role she will hold for two years. 

Professor Vic Rayner said: “Co-hosting the Global Ageing Conference with colleagues from the Global Ageing Network and Scottish Care was a huge honour and one which I am thrilled to continue as I take over the leadership of the Global Ageing Network board. I relish the opportunity to nurture the international connections that have been made and set a course, together with members and partners, to tackle the issues affecting the care of older people around the world and ensure their rights are represented.  

“The work we will be doing together reflects the enormous change taking place throughout the world that has a bearing on the daily delivery of care and support to older people, particularly the impacts of mass migration on the global care workforce. Our discussions at the conference included insights from 14 different countries and collectively reached a series of conclusions and recommendations. It is now time for us to communicate these outcomes via this report and demand action and funding from our governments and policymakers to help ensure each territory is empowered to develop a robust care workforce, attract new talent while rewarding the dedication of current care workers, and continue to transform the lives of older people with excellent, professional care.”  

CEO of the Global Ageing Network, Katie Smith-Sloan commented: “Without an adequate, trained and well supported workforce, there is no care. Throughout the world, we are facing enormous challenges in attracting, retaining, training, compensating, and elevating the profession of care workers. A global challenge needs global solutions. To this end, the Global Ageing Network and our members, as a global community dedicated to the well-being of older adults, are committed to raising awareness and driving the public and private sector towards urgently addressing the workforce crisis. There is a way forward if we work together.” 

The report is available to download here. 

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Visiting Angelz earns accolade as Scotland’s First Living Hours Accredited Care at Home Service

In a groundbreaking achievement for Scotland’s social care sector, Visiting Angelz, a Renfrewshire-based nurse-led care at home service, has secured Living Hours accreditation, marking a significant milestone in fair employment practices. They are the first social care employer in Scotland to achieve this accolade.

Established in 2012, Visiting Angelz specialises in delivering personal and domestic care services throughout Renfrewshire. By meeting the rigourous criteria for Living Hours accreditation, including the payment of the real Living Wage, providing advanced notice for shifts, and ensuring minimum weekly working hours, the company has demonstrated its commitment to fair compensation and secure working conditions for its employees.

Angela Magee, the Service Manager and Owner of Visiting Angelz, said:

“In these times of hardship in our communities, it is important to not only pay people fairly, but to provide them with stability and security at work and the opportunities that come with that through secure working terms. “Hard-working, dedicated people should have the opportunities to realise their full potential in all areas of their lives.”

Rachel Morrison-McCormick, Projects Coordinator at Living Wage Scotland, commended Visiting Angelz for their dedication to fair work practices, saying:

“We are delighted to welcome Visiting Angelz as our first social care Living Hours employer.

“There are over 3400 Living Wage employers in Scotland and it is great to see Visiting Angelz take further steps to protect their workers from low pay and insecure work.

“The values that led them to commit to the real Living Wage are the same values that have led to their expanded commitment to fair work at a time when workers need it most.”

According to research by the Living Wage Foundation, over 9 per cent of Scottish workers are in insecure work and earn below the Living Wage, accounting for approximately 250,000 workers.

As Scotland grapples with a significant portion of workers facing insecure employment and earning below the Living Wage, initiatives like Living Hours are crucial in promoting stable incomes and predictable working arrangements. Through Living Hours accreditation, Visiting Angelz exemplifies the values of fair employment and strives to provide its workforce with the means to lead fulfilling lives.

This story was featured on the Gazette, have a read here.

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International Women’s Day 2024 – Spotlight

This International Women’s Day, we shine a spotlight on the remarkable achievements of past female winners at the Care Home Awards 2023 and Care at Home Awards 2023, celebrating their invaluable contributions to the social care sector.

With over 80% of the Scottish social service sector workforce being women, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to all the women tirelessly serving in various roles, enriching lives and fostering compassionate care across Scotland.

#IWD2024 #InternationalWomensDay #shinealight

Care at Home & Housing Support Awards 2023

Care Service Coordination/Administration Award – Karrie Henderson, myCare Grampian

Care Learning Award – Sharon Barton, Plus Homecare

Leadership Award – Liz Cassidy, Altogether Care Services

Positive Impact Award – Rachel Shepherd, Call-In Homecare

Strategic Contribution Award – Anna Houston, HRM Homecare

Care Home Awards 2023

Ancillary & Support Award – Maureen Cameron, Manor Grange Care Home

Meaningful Activity Award – Benore Care Home Wellbeing Team

Emerging Talent Award – Brogan McKay, Manor Grange Care Home

Outstanding Achievement Award – Sharon Findlay, Benore Care Home

Leadership Award – Kirsty Cartin, Rashielee Care Home

Nurse of the Year Award – Vany Thomas, Benore Care Home

Care Worker of the Year Award – Tracy Libby, Four Hills

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Care at Home & Housing Support Awards 2024 – Deadline Extended!

Care at Home & Housing Support Awards 2024

Entry deadline extended – 18 March
Great news! We’ve extended the deadline for nominations to our annual Care at Home & Housing Support Awards until 5:00 pm on Monday 18 March 2024.

Don’t miss out on the chance to nominate deserving individuals and organisations in the homecare sector across Scotland. With 10 award categories, there’s ample opportunity to celebrate exceptional skills and commitment.

Before submitting your nomination, please review the guidelines carefully to ensure compliance with judging criteria.

Judging will take place in March/April, with the Awards Ceremony set for Friday 17 May, at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Glasgow, following the 2024 Care at Home & Housing Support Conference.

Don’t miss out on early bird tickets for the conference and book your place before the end of March here!

Join us in recognising the outstanding contributions of our dedicated homecare professionals and enter the awards now!

Find out more and enter here.

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Media Statement: Concerns over North Ayrshire Homecare Support

Scottish Care Media Release

For immediate release

Scottish Care voices concern over North Ayrshire homecare support

Scottish Care is the representative body of care at home providers who are charitable, not for profit, private and employee owned. Our members deliver most of the care and support for adults and older adults right across Scotland. As an organisation we very rarely make public comment on local actions, but we find ourselves unable to remain silent about what is happening in North Ayrshire at the present time.

In a recent statement North Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership (NAHSCP) has stated that they have decided to take all homecare support ‘in house’ and to end the contracts of existing non-Council providers from June 2024.

Scottish Care is concerned that actions of the NAHSCP endangers the care and support of those who are at the moment receiving services in the North Ayrshire area and which in the future will limit the legal rights and choices of residents in the area.

Scottish Care has several major concerns:

  • The NAHSCP has stated that their decision to bring all homecare services in house is for reasons of quality and that they have ‘invested’ in this decision. The NAHSCP has not published the costs of in-house services although precedent suggests they will cost more than double the cost of outsourced care and support it is possible therefore that in a time of austerity and service cuts that this decision will result in fewer people in North Ayrshire receiving the care and support they deserve and require, in an effort to balance books.
  • Whilst the NAHSCP has sought to reassure individuals that they will have the right to remain with existing providers and staff, we have no confidence of the independence of information and support being given to people. Will citizens have real choice and an independent support to allow them to make the decision which is right for them rather than what suits the NAHSCP?
  • Every person who requires social care and support, anywhere in Scotland, has the right to choose a provider (whether the Council or not) to provide that care. Scottish Care is concerned that in the future residents of North Ayrshire will be denied this legal right. We need assurance from the NAHSCP that they will continue to make available the services of other providers and that they will give independent information about their availability, and that they will comply with their legal duties in terms of the Social Care (Self-directed Support) (Scotland) Act 2013 (SDS Act).
  • The SDS Act places a requirement upon a local authority or HSCPs ‘to promote a variety of providers of support and a variety of support’ (sections 19 of the Act). This means that people have a range of providers to choose from. Scottish Care does not believe that anyone (whether a public, private or charitable provider) should have an effective monopoly in any area. The right to informed choice which the SDS Act enshrines requires there to be real choice. How can that be the case if the Council delivers all services? We would like North Ayrshire HSCP to communicate with ourselves and more importantly to the citizens of North Ayrshire as to how they will fulfil their legal requirements and how they intend to ‘promote a variety of providers.?
  • Scottish Care also highlights the report on the National Care Service (NCS)(Scotland) Bill (Stage 1), in relation to ethical commissioning. Recommendation 86 emphasises a “personalisation agenda as established within self-directed support legislation, ensuring choice and control for individuals to ensure the best possible outcomes”. This is achieved through a “plurality of provider to ensure that local care meets the needs and preferences of individuals”. Given this, Scottish Care seeks clarification surrounding the NAHSCP’s decision to conflict with the recommendations of the Scottish Parliament’s Health, Social Care and Sport Committee, and the subsequent legislative direction of Scotland in regard to ethical commissioning.
  • Lastly, the NAHSCP believes that most of the workers employed by existing providers will want to transfer to their employment. We already know many will not because they simply do not want to work for the Council. This will mean an even greater shortage of workers at such a critical time. Scottish Care would like to know if the NAHSCP has undertaken an equality and human rights risk assessment on their decision especially as it affects the rights of this predominantly female and older workforce. Sadly, we do not believe the rights of frontline workers have been respected.

In conclusion every citizen in Scotland who requires social care and support deserves to be treated in a manner that respects their individual dignity and the right to have control and choice over their lives. The SDS Act came about after years of campaigning by disability and older people groups who were tired of a situation where there was a take it or leave it approach, where people had no choice or control over the social care and support they receive. Scottish Care is very concerned that these hard fought for human rights are effectively being denied by the actions of the North Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership. By their actions NAHSCP have taken a step back in time rather than a step forward. Local residents and users of services both now and in the future, urgently need the NAHSCP to answer some fundamental questions.


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Deeside Care Home Charity Walk

Deeside Care Home in Aberdeen is taking part in the ‘Walk 100K in March Challenge 2024’ for Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance.

Staff from the care home will be walking this March for a good cause and to help raise much needed funds to keep our air ambulance crews saving lives in Scotland! We wish them all the best of luck for this challenge!