The Scottish government is shining a light on the positive difference made by adult social care workers across Scotland every day in a new online gallery.

Using photography to gather stories from those working in the sector, the gallery seeks to showcase ‘the ordinary moments that can make an extraordinary difference’ in people’s lives.

The campaign seeks to highlight the rewarding relationships that develop between workers and the people they support.

The online gallery comes as part of the government’s campaign to improve recruitment of adult social care workers in Scotland and help address vacancies in the sector and just months after the First Minister was urged to increase the social care pay rise above the promised £12 an hour.

Since unveiling its 2024-25 budget, the government has also heard concerns from leaders across the sector that the £19.5bn earmarked for health and social care is a below-inflation increase.

Scotland’s Minister for Social Care, Sport and Mental Wellbeing Maree Todd said this recruitment campaign – alongside the rise to £12 an hour for social care workers from next month – seek to tackle the issues care providers face.

Katie Kershaw who features in the campaign’s gallery is an occupational therapist with Leuchie House – a respite centre in North Berwick supporting people with multiple sclerosis, who have had a stroke, or who are living with different neurological conditions.

Katie shared that being a part of the adult care team at Leuchie House is “extremely rewarding”:

“I love that part of my job involves talking to lots of different people and helping them on their journey through life.

“Being able to make even the smallest positive impact on someone’s daily life is something I find extremely rewarding.

“It’s great that the Scottish government is shining a light on these little moments that make such a difference and I’d urge anyone considering a role in adult social care to go for it. There’s not many roles out there with job satisfaction like it.”

Content creator Emma Muldoon, who has been supported by care workers, says it is important to share the range of roles in adult social care and platform the difference workers are making:

“This campaign is brilliant as it highlights the various roles in the adult social care sector and showcases the small moments that make such a difference.

“Due to my condition, Limb Girdle Muscular Dystrophy, I have worked with a number of care professionals over the years and they have enabled me to live life to the fullest on my own terms and independently in my own home.

“If someone has a genuine passion for helping others and making a positive difference in people’s lives, a role in adult social care is for you.”

The ‘You can make the difference’ recruitment drive was launched by the government last November.

However, research on a previous government campaign shows that attempts to raise the profile of care sector in Scotland have been ineffective in shifting negative views held by the public about care jobs.

In the same week this campaign originally launched, a leading voice for improved conditions in social care told healthandcare.scot the government devalues the sector every time it fails to invest in care workers.

Social Care, Sport and Mental Wellbeing Minister Maree Todd said:

“The new online gallery shares the stories of people working in adult social care and the people they support, celebrating the rewarding relationships that make such a positive impact on people’s lives on a daily basis.

“To help address the issues care providers are facing in filling vacancies, we’re increasing pay again to £12 per hour from April 2024, and believe the National Care Service will help us and our partners to provide consistency in further improved pay and conditions, creating clearer career pathways and

“Anyone who thinks they might be a good fit for a job in adult social care should visit www.CareToCare.scot to find out more.”

Read more:  Action for social care workers “can't wait”; Urgent workforce reforms needed for Scotland's NHS; Carers facing full force of health and care crisis; Questioning “fundamentally changed” NCS; Glasgow link workers protected for three years; Employment support needed for Scotland's carers

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