National Care Service: questions and answers - engagement sessions

Workforce and Fair Work

How will you ensure fair work is part of the National Care Service? Will my terms and conditions change if I am being employed by the National Care Service?

• The Scottish Government has a long-standing commitment to the principles of Fair Work for the social care sector. We are fully committed to improve the experience of the social care workforce as we recognise and value the work that they do. Through the National Care Service, we're going to continue improving pay and terms and conditions for workers through the introduction of national pay bargaining for the sector. But we will not wait for the National Care Service to be established before we take action.
• In April this year, the minimum hourly rate for those providing direct adult social care increased to £10.50 per hour.

What will the Benchmarking /Job evaluation arrangements be as part of any TUPE or other process, for local authority workforce transferring over to the National Care Service?

• It is not a foregone conclusion that social care staff will need to transfer their employment from local government to the National Care Service. Depending on the outcomes of further discussion, co-design and local agreements, local authorities may continue to provide services commissioned by local care boards, or those services and staff may transfer to be provided directly by the local care board.

Why will those who are employed by the NHS not be transferred to the National Care Service, but those employed by local authorities will be transferred?

• Health Boards are already accountable to Scottish Ministers, and it is anticipated that they will continue to provide health services commissioned by local care boards. This is different from the position with social care support, where the Bill proposes to move accountability from local authorities to Scottish Ministers.

How will the National Care Service tackle resourcing issues?

• The Scottish Government's National Workforce Strategy for Health and Social Care was published on 11 March. The Strategy looks at the whole workforce journey and how we can plan for, attract, train, employ and nurture our Health and Social Care Workforce. We have worked in partnership with our co-producers COSLA and extensively engaged with stakeholders from across Health and Social Care to develop the Strategy. The Strategy outlines our shared vision for the workforce - a sustainable, skilled workforce with attractive career choices where all are respected and valued for the work they do.

How will you ensure training and development for the social care workforce?

• The National Induction Framework for new entrants into social care was launched earlier this year, and materials are available via the Scottish Social Services Council website.  Further work is ongoing to develop and expand these materials to offer a robust induction framework for all social care staff, working in a variety of environments.  Further, we will be working with schools, colleges and in partnership with Scottish Social Services Council and NHS Education for Scotland  to develop career pathways and enhance learning and development for colleagues working in adult social care. We are taking action to improve conditions and invest in up-skilling and training for the social care workforce. This includes the development of foundation and modern apprenticeships and resources for those providing careers advice.  In the medium term working with schools, colleges and partners we will develop career pathways within social services and between social services and health, through an integrated qualification that will increase the attractiveness of the sector and provide clear routes for career progression and skills development through to advanced practice.

What action will the National Care Service take to improve the appeal, and image, of working in the care sector?

• The National Care Service aims to have a sustainable, skilled workforce with attractive career choices and fair work where all are respected and valued for the work they do. Work has already begun to invest in up-skilling and training for the social care workforce. This includes raising awareness of foundation and modern apprenticeships.