A rise in Scotland’s social care workforce to record-breaking levels has come as little relief to the voluntary sector and providers of adult day care and care home services which are still struggling to recruit the staff they need to deliver quality care.

Annual workforce data from the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) show the total number of social care staff grew by 0.6% in 2023.

The increase has been driven partly by a 120.5% swell in the number of nurses employed by agencies over the last decade, of which the NHS and private health services are the main beneficiaries.

The figures mask a fall in both staff working in adult day care services – which historically support adults with learning disabilities, older adults, and people with mental health problems – and in adult care homes.

The total number of registered adult day care services in 2023 fell by 9.2%, according to the data, while more than a third (38.6%) of services have closed since 2014.

A recent audit of public sector day services found staffing pressures have delayed a return to pre-pandemic capacity.

The number of staff working in care homes for adults is also now at its lowest level since records began.

The organisation representing Scotland’s independent care home operators, Scottish Care, last year said the National Care Home Contract will not be enough to support the sector over the winter.

Around 14 fewer care homes were in operation in Scotland at the end of 2023 than the year before, according to SSSC data.

An additional 2,100 people have found employment within the care at home and housing support sector in 2023, which is now at its highest level since records began.

An SSSC spokesperson said the Scottish government’s longstanding policy to support people to live in their own homes for as long as possible is reflected in the changes.

The annual workforce report comes as more than 3,000 people in Scotland are thought to be waiting for a care-at-home package.

SSSC Chief Executive Maree Allison said:

‘As Scotland’s population grows older more people are likely to need care and support to help them live well. The fact more of this is being provided in people’s own homes is reflected in the biggest workforce rises being in housing support, care at home and nurse agencies.

‘There are a wide range of job roles available in the social service workforce and we do lots of work with Scottish government and other key partners to promote careers in care.

‘We also support workforce wellbeing and advocate for fair work to make sure the workforce is rightly valued for the important work they do and that people using services can have confidence in care.’

 

The voluntary sector

The voluntary sector employs around 25% of the total social care workforce in Scotland, but its staff numbers have been falling since 2020.

Almost one in three staff employed by the voluntary sector left their role in 2023, according to SSSC data.

The voice of not-for-profit care providers, Coalition of Care and Support Providers in Scotland (CCPS), said this chimes with high turnover rates experienced by their members.

The organisation recently reported 95% of organisations found it difficult to recruit frontline line staff in 2022-23, largely because of competition and low pay.

CEO Rachel Cackett said:

“Providers are investing in recruitment and staff training but lose staff to higher salaries in the public and private sector, or to other external higher paying professions.

“Our 2023 Social Care Benchmarking Report amplifies this, showing an increase in spending on recruitment but providers continuing to experience serious challenges in appointing frontline staff.

“Despite pay disparities, not-for-profit organisations are tasked with delivering vital public services, with 83% of organisations continuing to deliver a publicly commissioned service despite a deficit budget.”

CCPS is calling for the Scottish government to fund a fair 2025-26 pay deal for social care staff, which it believes will help to stem the loss of staff who are essential to the delivery of quality care.

A spokesperson for the care watchdog Care Inspectorate – which is due to publish data on social care vacancies with the SSSC later this year – said it is important to value social care as a profession and recognise the skills, knowledge and expertise it requires:

“We understand that recruitment and retention issues continue to provide challenges for adult social care services and we remain committed to supporting the sector as they provide care to some of the most vulnerable members of our society.”

 

Read more: Care homes ‘extremely reluctantly’ accept contract; Competition and low pay hamper care recruitment