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Media Release: Scottish Care Nursing Workforce Report 2025

Scottish Care Nursing Workforce Report 2025 warns of “critical strain” on sector

Scottish Care will publish its Nursing Workforce Report 2025 on Wednesday 3 September, which reveals that Scotland’s independent social care nursing workforce is under immense pressure.

The survey – the first since 2021 – captures the experiences of 48 organisations, employing more than 780 nurses across 234 care home services. It shows:

  • Persistent recruitment challenges – 75% of providers report difficulties filling nurse vacancies.
  • Fragile retention – more than half of organisations indicated that nurses who had left moved to the NHS, with nearly 70% indicating that on average, nurses exit within their first five years with an organisation.
  • Rising stress and burnout – 37% report increased stress levels, and sickness absence is on the rise.
  • Systemic barriers – pay disparity with the NHS, lack of tailored professional development, and restrictive immigration policies are all undermining workforce stability.

The report highlights that without urgent action, these issues will continue to impact continuity of care, hospital discharges, and the wider health and social care system.

Dr Donald Macaskill, CEO of Scottish Care, said:

“This report shines a stark light on the reality facing social care nurses across Scotland. For too long, they have been undervalued, underpaid, and unsupported despite the skilled, complex and essential care they deliver every single day. Unless we address pay inequality with the NHS, invest in proper training and career development, and create fair pathways for international recruitment, we risk losing an irreplaceable workforce. The future sustainability of our health and social care system depends on a strong and respected nursing profession in care homes. We cannot afford to ignore this crisis any longer.”

Scottish Care is calling for:

  • Pay parity with NHS roles to stem attrition.
  • Funded and accessible training/CPD designed specifically for social care.
  • Targeted and accessible entry routes for new and returning nurses, including improved Return to Practice pathways.
  • A fairer immigration system that supports international recruits.
  • Investment to reduce agency reliance and ensure safe staffing levels.

Read the report here

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Care Home Awards 2025 – Nomination Deadline Extended

We’re pleased to announce that the nomination deadline for the Scottish Care  National Care Home Awards 2025 has been extended to end of day, Friday 5 September 2025.

This extra time offers one final opportunity to recognise and celebrate the incredible dedication, innovation, and compassion of care home staff and services across Scotland.

Don’t miss the chance to honour outstanding individuals or teams, visit the nomination page to submit your entries now: https://scottishcare.org/care-home-awards-2025/

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Disclosure Scotland Webinar – 4 Sept

Scottish Care is pleased to invite members to a dedicated PVG webinar in partnership with Disclosure Scotland, designed to update and support members on key changes affecting the sector.

Date & Time: Thursday 4 September 2025, 2:00 – 2:45 pm

We’ll be joined by Jillian Cole, Customer Engagement Manager, Disclosure Scotland

The session will cover:

  • An update on Disclosure Scotland’s performance
  • The mandatory PVG scheme and the requirement for individuals to share disclosures
  • An overview of other Disclosure Act changes relevant to Scottish Care members
  • Live Q&A with Disclosure Scotland representatives

This is a valuable opportunity to hear directly from Disclosure Scotland, ask questions, and ensure your organisation is prepared for the changes.

Please register for this webinar via the Members Area

We look forward to welcoming you.

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Social Care Nursing Conference 2025 – 3 September

Wednesday 3 September 2025
Renfield Centre, 260 Bath Street, Glasgow, G2 4JP
Free event – registration required

Scottish Care is delighted to announce the 2025 Social Care Nursing Conference, titled ‘Unique Voice, Shared Purpose’, taking place on Wednesday 3 September 2025 at the Renfield Centre in Glasgow.

This free, in-person event is open to all nurses working in or supporting social care across Scotland. The programme includes:

  • Keynote speakers and sector leaders
  • Interactive workshops and breakout sessions
  • Networking opportunities and sector updates
  • A chance to explore nursing pathways, innovation in dementia care, and wellbeing support

The first draft of the event programme and the registration form are now available.

Register and view the programme here

Please note: While this is a free event, cancellations must be made by 27 August. Non-attendance without notice will incur a £25 fee to cover catering costs.

We look forward to welcoming you to a day of reflection, learning, and connection as we champion the voice and value of nurses in social care.

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Tickets Launched – Care Home Conference 2025

Tickets are now live for the Care Home Conference & Exhibition 2025, taking place Friday 14th November at the Hilton Hotel, Glasgow.

Book before 13th September 2025 to secure our Early Bird rates – the best prices of the year:

Members: £80 + VAT (Standard: £99 + VAT)
Non-Members: £125 + VAT (Standard: £160 + VAT)

Join us for a day of sector insights, practical sessions, and networking with care professionals, policy makers, and suppliers.

Don’t miss your chance to save – once Early Bird ends, standard rates apply.

Find out more about this conference and book your tickets here

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Care Inspectorate – Digital Transformation Project

Please see below for the latest updates from the Care Inspectorate on Stage 2 of their Digital Transformation Project.

We’re on a digital transformation journey 

At the Care Inspectorate, collaboration is at the heart of everything we do. That same approach is guiding us as we move through our Stage 2 Digital Transformation Project, a major step forward in building a more efficient, secure, and sustainable way of working.

We’re replacing outdated systems with a modern, easy-to-use digital platform that will support key functions like registration, complaints, notifications, and inspections.

It will:

  • make collaboration easier
  • improve how we manage and use data
  • help us spot issues early and respond faster
  • strengthen public confidence in care services.

We’re currently testing early versions of the new platform with real users to make sure it meets your needs. This is a shared journey, and your input is helping shape a system that works better for everyone across the sector.

Benefits at a glance

Designed with you, informed by you

We’ve followed the Scottish Approach to Service Design, starting by mapping how things work now, then listening to providers to understand what’s working, what’s not, and what needs to change.

Your feedback has shaped the new platform, especially the Service Portal, which will be your main hub for working with us.

What’s coming next

 

What you told us during Notifications service design

When we carried out service design on the notifications system, you told us it’s hard to search, unclear, and not mobile-friendly. Here’s what you said you need:2

  • a simple way to find past notifications
  • clearer language and guidance
  • mobile access and a more intuitive layout
  • smart tools to help pick the right form.

We’re using your insights to build a system that’s easier, faster, and works the way you do.

How to get involved

Your voice has shaped this work, and we want to keep it that way.

We’re keen to hear from anyone with an interest in shaping the future of our digital services. Whether you’re a care provider, a manager, someone who’s recently registered a service, or someone with accessibility needs, your perspective matters.

If you’d like to take part in our user research or testing, we’d love to hear from you.

To get involved, just email us at [email protected] or complete our short form on Microsoft Forms.

We’ll keep you updated throughout the project and continue to involve you as we build and improve. We can’t wait to hear what you have to say!

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Flower Arranging at Abercorn House Care Home

A big thank you to Asda Hamilton for helping make a recent flower arranging day at Abercorn House Care Home truly special. Residents, families, and staff filled the home with colour, conversation, and creativity, all thanks to the kind support of local store manager Gillian, who personally delivered the flowers and joined in the fun.

Bringing Joy in Bloom: A Special Day of Flower Arranging at Abercorn House Care Home

On Tuesday 23rd of July 2025, Abercorn House Care Home was filled with colour, fragrance, and joyful conversation as we hosted a special flower arranging day for our residents and their loved ones, a heartwarming event made possible through the generous support of Asda Hamilton Branch.

Thanks to the kindness and community spirit of Gillian, the store manager at Asda Hamilton, the day became more than just an activity. Gillian personally delivered a beautiful selection of fresh flowers and supplies to the home, and took the time to chat with our residents, bringing smiles and warmth that stayed long after the flowers were arranged.

Residents from both of our units participated in the event, joined by their families and the care team, turning our lounge into a vibrant workshop of creativity and laughter. For many, the activity stirred fond memories of gardens, favourite flowers, and times spent arranging blooms in years gone by. The presence of loved ones made the occasion even more meaningful, reinforcing the connection between care, community and personal well-being.

This event is perfect example of how partnership with local organisations can create special moments for those we care for. We are truly grateful to Gillian and the Asda Hamilton team for helping us make the day so memorable.

At Abercorn House, we believe that everyday offers an opportunity to enrich lives, and on this day, we did just that, one flower at a time.

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A Winning Day Out for Abercorn House Residents

We’re thrilled to share a joyful story from Abercorn House, where residents enjoyed a fantastic day at Hamilton Racecourse, joined by the dedicated activities team.

A Day at the Races-Bella, Tom, Jim and Joan Join the Betting Bachelors at Hamilton Racecourse!

Last Friday (18 July 2025), spirits were high as Abercorn House residents Bella, Tom and Jim enjoyed an unforgettable day out at Hamilton Racecourse, joined by our fantastic activities team members Von and Rohwell. The outing brought joy, laughter, and a special kind of magic that made it a truly memorable day for all involved.

Tom, who hadn’t been feeling his best in the days leading up to the trip, had a noticeable lift in his mood. Being out in the fresh air, surrounded by good friends, and soaking in the lively atmosphere of the races truly brought a spark back to him. And that spark turned into full blown cheer when he and Rohwell picked the winning horse in one of the races! With cheeky grins, the pair proudly dubbed themselves the “betting bachelors” and they’ve been reminding us of their victory ever since!

Jim was joined by his loving wife Joan, and seeing them together was a joy. They held hands, cheered on the horses, and shared warm moments that reminded everyone of the strength of their bond. Joan beamed as she said, “It feels just like the old days”.

Bella brought her usual sunshine to the group. Elegant and engaging, she made new friends among the crowd and encouraged others to clap and cheer along. She later shared, “I haven’t laughed this much in a long time”.

Von made sure the day ran smoothly, supporting everyone while capturing special moments and sharing in the laughter. His energy and compassion helped make the trip not just an outing, but a truly meaningful experience.

After the races, the group gathered for drinks and treats, reflecting on the day with smiles and stories. Jim called it a “perfect day”, joked that he’s now officially Abercorn’s racing expert.

This day out wasn’t just about horses, it was about connection, joy and the simple moments that make life special. We’re so proud to see our residents living life to the fullest, and we’re already looking forward to the next adventure with the Betting Bachelors leading the way!

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Abbotsford Nursing Home – Namaste Care

We’re delighted to share how Abbotsford Nursing Home has been delivering the Namaste Care programme, please read below to find out more.

In Abbotsford Nursing Home we have implemented a Namaste Care programme, founded by Joyce Simard. ‘Namaste’ comes from the Hindu greeting and expresses a wish to honour the essence of an individual person.  Namaste Care believes, that despite the ravages of dementia on the brain, the ‘essence’ and ‘spirit’ of the person remains.  The challenge is to find ways to connect to the individual’s spirit, to enrich everyday life experiences and doing so improve quality of life.

The principles of the Namaste Care programme include creating a calm and comfortable environment, providing activities and interactions with an unhurried, loving touch approach, and using other elements to engage the senses. This all leads to creating an environment and atmosphere to allow space for positive and meaningful connection.

Abbotsford nursing home was the second home in Scotland to implement Namaste Care following a supportive educational programme developed initially in 2011 by Dr Lorna Reid, formally of Accord Hospice and now Prince and Princess of Wales Hospice, in 2013 Fiona Irvine joined form the Ayrshire Hospice.

In 2013 Lorna and Fiona further developed the Education Programme resulting in a four day face to face experiential pilot course.  Part of this course provided a placement day within the only care home in Scotland to have successfully implemented Namaste Care with the support of Lorna.

Due to Abbotsford attending palliative care courses run by the Ayrshire Hospice we were asked to join the pilot.  The successful implementation of Namaste Care was initially supported by the Ayrshire Hospice through regular support meetings from Fiona.  Our activity organiser, Lianne Lieser attended the pilot and immediately saw the benefit that Namaste Care would bring to our residents who did not actively participate or engage in activities within the Home.  Through, trial and error we adapted the criteria on occasions to suit the needs of our residents, we have looked at residents with levels of distress, anxiety, low mood.  The feedback from residents, families and staff were very positive and encouraging. Staff have also reported that residents appear more alert, more relaxed and eat and drink more after a session at Namaste.

Margaret Chisolm, aged 83 lives with Parkinson’s disease which affects her dexterity causing her to be stiff and sore at times, she is unable to lift a glass independently.  However, after a session of Namaste, she is able to pick her glass up and with the use of a straw take a drink independently.  “I feel much more relaxed after Namaste, I especially enjoy the massage”

One relative said, “My wife is more alert and smiling, which I haven’t seen for a long time”.

We have been committed in implementing Namaste Care with the residents since, 2014 and pre-pandemic they welcomed participants from future courses on placement days.  The project has demonstrated the effectiveness of collaborative working between hospices and care homes to improve the quality of life for residents and their families living and dying with various life limiting co-morbidities including advanced dementia.

We are now one of the few homes who continue to provide Namaste Care in Ayrshire and recently we were approached by Fiona Irvine and Dr Lorna Reid who were looking to restart the Namaste Care training following the unsettling time after the pandemic. We were asked by them to  get involved, by making a sort film as a testimonial to improve communication about Namaste Care and inform others about the benefits of  Namaste care so they could promote their new training programme and encourage other care homes to develop Namaste Care within their homes.