EY Webinar: National Minimum Wage – 11 Sept

Date: Thursday 11 September 2025
Time: 2:00 pm – 3:00pm

Scottish Care will be joined by Gary Henderson, EYs National Minimum Wage lead, to discuss current NMW topics, trends, and challenges.

Gary will be covering HMRCs current enforcement activity in the Care Sector in Scotland – highlighting the risks and issues receiving particular focus.

He will also talk through the timeline of an HMRC NMW enquiry and what your business should expect if an investigation is opened.

Finally, he will share some tips on keeping your business NMW compliant – and outline where you can go for further support and advice.

Gary Henderson has 10+ years experience in the world of NMW, working as an HMRC enforcement officer before joining EYs NMW specialist team in 2022.

This webinar is for members only, please register via the Members Area of our website.

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

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/

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.

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.

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

Scottish Care/Wagestream Webinar – 14 August 2025

Upcoming Webinar for Scottish Care Members

Beyond the Paycheck: Strengthening Your Care Workforce Through Financial Wellbeing

Date: Thursday 14th August, 12:15pm – 1:00 pm
45-minute session with Q&A

Join us for an exclusive Scottish Care member webinar in partnership with Wagestream, our commercial partner, focused on building a resilient, empowered care workforce.

This session will explore how investing in employee financial wellbeing can help address sector-wide workforce challenges from high turnover and recruitment struggles to absenteeism and burnout. Discover practical tools, proven outcomes, and real-life impact stories from care providers.

What you’ll learn:

  • Why financial stress is driving disengagement and turnover in care
  • How Wagestream’s tools, from flexible pay to budgeting and savings, are improving workforce stability
  • Case study insights: 16% lower turnover, 27% faster recruitment, and up to 32% reduction in agency spend

Who should attend?
CEOs, owners, HR and Finance Directors, and senior leaders in Scottish Care member organisations.

Don’t miss this opportunity to future-proof your workforce.

Register via the Members Area to secure your place!

Care Home Awards 2025 – Nominations Now Open!

We’re delighted to announce that nominations are now open for the Scottish Care Home Awards 2025!

These annual awards celebrate the outstanding dedication, creativity, and compassion shown by care home staff and services across Scotland. It’s your chance to shine a spotlight on those making a real difference every day.

The Awards Ceremony will take place on:
Friday 14 November 2025
Hilton Hotel, Glasgow


2025 Award Categories include:

  • Ancillary & Support Staff
  • Nutrition & Eating Well
  • Meaningful Activity
  • Training, Learning & Staff Development
  • Emerging Talent
  • Outstanding Achievement
  • Leadership
  • Palliative & End of Life Care Practice
  • Nurse of the Year
  • Care Worker of the Year
  • Specialist Service/Unit of the Year
  • Care Home Service of the Year
  • Care Innovation Award

Key Dates

  • Deadline for entries: Monday 1 September 2025 (close of play)
  • Awards Ceremony: Friday 14 November 2025, Hilton Hotel, Glasgow

Help us recognise the individuals and teams who go the extra mile in care homes across Scotland.

We can’t wait to read your inspiring submissions!

Find out more on how to enter here

2025 Social Care Nursing Survey Now Open

We’re pleased to launch the 2025 Social Care Nursing Survey, which was last undertaken in 2021. This important survey aims to gather unique and invaluable data on the numbers, experiences, and support needs of nurses in social care, as well as the organisations that employ them.

The insights gained from this survey will provide crucial nursing data not available elsewhere, helping to shape future strategies, advocacy and policies to better support nurses in social care. Your participation is crucial in ensuring we capture a comprehensive picture of the current landscape.

The survey is designed to be comprehensive yet straightforward, taking approximately 15-20 minutes to complete. To facilitate the process, having some basic information about your service, staffing and nurse employment in the last 12 months on hand before you begin will likely be helpful. Please ensure someone with sufficient knowledge completes the survey on behalf of your organisation.

Please click on the link below to access the survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/socialcarenursing25

We encourage all services that employ nurses to complete the survey by the 31 July deadline. You are welcome to complete the survey at a service or organisation level, but please ensure there are not multiple responses which duplicate data.

If you have any questions or need assistance with the survey, please get in contact with Becca Young – [email protected].

Thank you for your continued support and commitment to improving social care through active membership of Scottish Care.