National Care Service - adult social care: equality evidence review

10. Religion or belief

The Equality Act 2010 defines the protected characteristic of religion or belief in terms of any religion, or religious or philosophical belief, including a lack of religion or lack of belief^[113]. This section brings together data and evidence on equalities in social care and religion and belief. Evidence is presented here in relation to the experiences of people who access social care, unpaid carers, and social care workers.

10.1 People who access social care

There is no national data on religion or belief for people who access social care, although NRS analysis of population data suggests that Scotland is becoming more ethnically and religiously diverse^[114].

10.2 Unpaid carers

There is little national data on religion or belief for unpaid carers. Analysis of Scottish Survey Core Questions 2019 data found some variance in the prevalence of providing unpaid care, ranging from 11.5% for people identifying as Muslim to 18.2% for people identifying as Church of Scotland, however the differences were not statistically significant^[115].

10.3 Social care workers

There is no national data on religion or belief for social care workers, although NRS analysis of population data suggests that Scotland is becoming more ethnically and religiously diverse^[116].