Time to Care

From 1st October 2016 social care workers should be be paid £8.25 per hour. Are you? #TimetoCare

Help UNISON enforce the Living Wage and Fair Work. Click here to fill in our Living Wage survey right now!

New Social Care Rights from 1 October as demanded by Scottish Government

• The Scottish Living Wage of £8.25 (£8.45 from 1 May 2017)
• Fair working conditions
• An effective voice for staff when negotiating with your employer
• Secure working arrangements
• Opportunities to advance your career in social care

All this should be embedded in the revised funding of the organisation you work for. Complete the survey and tell UNISON what’s happening ‘on the ground’.

Update at 21 December: The Scottish Government has identified £100 million to enable the increased rate of £8.45 per hour to be paid, from at least the 1st of May 2017, to care workers supporting adults in care homes and care at home / housing support settings and should now include, where it hasn’t already, adult day care workers and personal assistants through arrangements made where care is provided.

Sleepovers: In addition the Government and COSLA statement says: “as minimum sleepovers are compliant as per HMRC guidelines. As stated before, this is for a transitional period with the ambition being that all hours be paid at the rate of the Living Wage… We will continue to support partnerships and providers in reforming sleepovers and looking to sustainable models of care based on improving outcomes for individuals. As part of the resource for Living Wage £10m was identified for sleepovers.” Progress will be reviewed throughout the year.

If you work in social care and are not being paid the Living Wage – or if your terms and conditions have been altered as a result of receiving the Living Wage – then you need to let us know.
Click here to tell us about it right now using our fast survey.

Time to Care News

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First Minister must intervene in Bield Housing decision to close 12 care homes

Bield Housing and Care, announced yesterday (11 October) that they intend to close 12 care homes in Edinburgh, Falkirk, Glasgow, ...

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Reports and briefings

Briefing 70: Ethical Care Charter

Briefing 70: Ethical Care Charter

KEY POINTS: The Ethical Care Charter was developed to provide a better quality and dignified care service This should be ... Read More
Briefing 69: Extending the Scottish Living Wage through procurement - updated - Nov 2015

Briefing 69: Extending the Scottish Living Wage through procurement – updated – Nov 2015

b069_BargainingBrief_LivingWage+Procurement_Nov2015 KEY POINTS: The Scottish Living Wage should be extended to all delivering public services. Social care is a key ... Read More
Working Together; Progressive Workplace Policies In Scotland response

Working Together; Progressive Workplace Policies In Scotland response

We would certainly share in the aims for a labour market which is highly conducive to; "creating sustainable high quality ... Read More
Carers (Scotland) Bill

Carers (Scotland) Bill

UNISON members are well aware of the difficulties faced by carers who struggle to look after older, disabled or ill ... Read More
Carers (Scotland) Bill response

Carers (Scotland) Bill response

UNISON members are well aware of the difficulties faced by carers who struggle to look after older, disabled or ill ... Read More
Statutory Duty of Candour for Health and Social Care Services

Statutory Duty of Candour for Health and Social Care Services

UNISON Scotland’s Submission to the Scottish Government on its Consultation on Proposals to Introduce a Statutory Duty of Candour for ... Read More
Voices from the sharp end

Voices from the sharp end

We undertook a survey of health and local authority social work staff to find out their views on current proposals ... Read More
e-briefing: Health and social care integration regulations

e-briefing: Health and social care integration regulations

The principles of health and care integration are set out in the Public Bodies (Joint Working) Act 2014. However, the ... Read More
Commission for the provision of Quality Care in Scotland

Commission for the provision of Quality Care in Scotland

UNISON Scotland has long campaigned for the quality of social care to be raised.  We have been involved formally in ... Read More
Draft Regulations relating to Public Bodies (Joint Working) (Scotland) Act – Set 2 response

Draft Regulations relating to Public Bodies (Joint Working) (Scotland) Act – Set 2 response

There appears to be total disregard for the Staff Governance Standard within the document and there was an expectation that ... Read More

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