New Report Highlights Critical Barriers to Qualification for Scottish Social Care Workforce
Scottish Care has today launched (24 April 2025) its latest report, “Overcoming Qualification Barriers in Scottish Social Care: A Survey Analysis”. This publication, based on survey data from independent sector social care services, addresses the critical challenges faced by the sector regarding mandatory qualifications for its workforce.
Mandatory registration with the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) and the requirement for staff in registered roles to achieve a mandatory qualification are legal stipulations widely supported by sector leaders for professionalisation and recognition of the workforce’s vital skills. However, the report highlights that sufficient resourcing from key policy and funding stakeholders has not aligned with the drive for full registration, resulting in substantial barriers to accessing and funding these qualifications.
The report highlights a worrying trend: a significant number of social care workers are considering leaving the sector specifically because of these qualification obstacles. This potential loss of experienced staff poses a serious threat to the sector’s stability, exacerbating existing vacancies and reducing the capacity of care organisations to deliver essential support services at a time of growing demand in both care home and care at home provision.
The report highlights SSSC data that 57% of home care workers and 54% of care home support workers are yet to achieve mandatory registration qualifications. If these large proportions of staff do not achieve their qualifications within the shortened three-year timeframe, they are unlikely to be able to continue in their roles, with massive implications for the workforce and the sector as a whole.
The report serves as a critical step in exploring the impact of registration and qualification requirements. While acknowledging the positive aspects of professional registration and the value of qualifications when they work effectively, it concludes that the current process presents extensive challenges for a diverse workforce.
Scottish Care is clear that registration is essential for safety and professionalism, but the associated qualifications must be a vehicle for acknowledging, validating, and celebrating skills, not an inhibitor to a career in care. The sustainability of care organisations and the journey of their staff depend on a qualification system that supports recruitment and retention.
The report calls for wider buy-in and partnership working among all stakeholders to build on areas of positivity and urgently resolve the worsening workforce crises in the sector .
Scottish Care calls on the Scottish Government and all key stakeholders to urgently invest in the social care workforce. As staff take on increasingly complex roles, they must be supported to gain and maintain essential qualifications. This requires sustainable funding, accessible training pathways, and long-term commitment. Without collective action, there is a serious risk of deepening the workforce crisis and compromising the quality and safety of care across Scotland.
