Scottish Care has today published a new Care at Home & Housing Support Real Living Wage (RLW) and Sustainability Advocacy Pack, alongside a national media statement highlighting the urgent financial pressures facing Scotland’s independent and not‑for‑profit social care sector.

The launch comes in response to significant concern across the sector following the Scottish Government’s recent change to the RLW uplift calculation model, which has resulted in an estimated £19 million funding shortfall. This gap leaves current contract rates unable to meet wage requirements and intensifies the fragility already felt by many providers.

A sector under unprecedented strain

Care providers are reporting growing instability due to:

• A unilateral change to RLW uplift funding that shifts the burden of wage increases onto providers
• Insufficient contract rates and lack of transparency in local commissioning
• Delayed payments and inconsistent uplift application
• Rising workforce costs, statutory obligations, and increasing service demand
• Persistent underinvestment that threatens the viability of publicly funded care

These challenges undermine both provider sustainability and the continuity of care for individuals and families across Scotland.

What the Advocacy Pack provides

The new Advocacy Pack offers:

• Clear background on the funding shortfall and its implications
• Evidence from Scottish Care research, member surveys, and wider sector reports
• Case studies, including the Falkirk Action Plan, demonstrating how local collaboration can drive improvement
• Practical tools for providers:
  • Draft letters to HSCPs, local authorities, Scotland Excel and elected representatives
  • A draft media statement and briefing materials
  • A one‑page ministerial briefing
  • Access to additional evidence papers
• Key messages to support coordinated advocacy in the lead‑up to the Scottish Budget and national elections

The resource is designed to support members in engaging with policymakers, highlighting risk, and calling for urgent action on fair and sustainable funding.

A call for decisive leadership

In our accompanying media statement, Scottish Care warns that providers are being placed “in an impossible position”, forced to absorb costs that should sit with the public sector and facing contract rates that fail to reflect the true cost of delivering care. Without swift action, the sector risks further service withdrawal, workforce instability, and reduced access to essential support for vulnerable people.

We are urging the Scottish Government and local authorities to:

• Restore RLW funding
• Review and uplift contract rates to reflect actual cost of care
• Provide consistent, transparent commissioning
• Commit to a sustainability mitigation plan to protect services and staff

Access the Advocacy Pack

The full Advocacy Pack can be downloaded below:

Advocacy Pack: Real Living Wage Uplift & Sustainability (Feb 2026)