Social Care Services, Scotland, 2015

Key points

All of the figures presented have been rounded to the nearest 10, 100 or 1,000.

• There were 61,500 people in Scotland receiving Home Care services in March 2015, a figure similar to the last two years. These people received 706,000 hours of Home Care during the census week, a figure which has increased each year since 2011.
• In the financial year 2014-15, over 122,000 people received Community Alarms and/or Telecare services. Note: this was previously only recorded for the March census week, which has resulted in an increase between 2014 and 2015.
• Councils are increasingly purchasing services from the private and voluntary sector rather than providing it themselves. In 2015, nearly half (48%) of Home Care clients received a service solely from their Local Authority, compared to nearly three-quarters (73%) in 2007.
• The number of people choosing a Direct Payment to purchase the services they require continues to increase, with an estimated 6,450 clients and £86.1 million spent during the 2014-15 financial year.

Figure 2 shows the trend in Home Care clients and hours provided in the last 10 years. The number of Home Care clients has remained stable since 2013, following decreases in previous years. The number of Home Care hours (excluding 24/7 care) provided has increased every year since 2011.

Figure 2: Home Care (a) clients and (b) hours provided during the census week, 2006- 2015

Note: 24/7 care has been excluded under the Home Care definition used since 2013. Two lines are provided in this chart for Home Care hours to provide comparability.

Source: Scottish Government Social Care Survey 2013-2015,
Scottish Government Home Care Census 2006-2012

The number of people in receipt of Direct Payments has continued the same trend as previous years, increasing from 6,010 in 2013-14 to an estimated 6,450 in 2014-15 (Figure 3). Expenditure on Direct Payments has also increased, from £76.1 million in 2013-14 to an estimated £86.1 million in 2014-15.

Figure 3: Direct Payments (SDS option 1), clients and expenditure, financial year 2005-06 to 2014-15*

* Direct Payments totals include an estimate for East Renfrewshire council - see 5.5 (background notes).

Source: Scottish Government Social Care Survey 2013-2015,
Scottish Government Self-Directed Support/Direct Payments Survey 2006-2012