Question reference: S6W-15036
- Date lodged: 23 February 2023
-
Current status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 6 March 2023
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the potential impact of the proposed pay settlements for (a) the NHS, (b) local government and (c) commissioned social care on workforce (i) recruitment and (ii) retention for third sector social care providers, and how it will measure any such impact.
Answer
The Scottish Government works closely with key stakeholders to assess all factors that impact recruitment and retention for third sector providers in the adult social care sector.
The Scottish Government recognises the effect that wider pay settlements may have and that is why a further £100 million is being provided to Local Government to ensure a £10.90 per hour minimum wage for adult social care workers in commissioned services from April 2023. This includes workers in third sector providers and takes Scottish Government recurring funding for adult social care pay in commissioned services to £0.6 billion per year. It is worth noting that the £10.90 per hour rate is the minimum rate of pay for these workers and many providers choose to pay more than these minimums. The Scottish Government will continue to engage with third sector social care providers to understand how this funding is contributing toward supporting recruitment and retention.