Supporting Scotland’s Social Work Services Workforce: UNISON is by far the largest union representing most Social Work and Social Care staff in Scotland. We represent Social Workers in all specialisms, residential workers, social care workers, OTs, home care staff and professional, admin and clerical support staff. We have a Social Work Issues Group (SWIG) with reps from branches across Scotland, specifically addressing Social Work issues. See also important information for workers registered with regulatory bodies.
News and updates
Split shifts – a health and safety issue for women
Split shifts came under the spotlight at STUC Women’s conference as delegates backed a need for proper research into the ... Read More
Social Work members : Impact of cuts on service survey
UNISON Scotland's Social Work Issues Group (SWIG) is encouraging members on social work teams to take part in a union ... Read More
Social work members in West Dunbartonshire agree to suspend strike action
UNISON met with West Dunbartonshire Council last week (May 29) following on from our tremendous industrial action ballot result announced ... Read More
Social work staff in West Dunbartonshire to ballot on strike action
UNISON has today (Tuesday) served notice to West Dunbartonshire Council and the Health & Social Care Partnership that it will ... Read More
Call for action to end violence at work
#stuc19 Congress reaffirmed that no worker should face violence or aggression their workplace and highlighted the employers’ duty of care ... Read More
Time to work together for a trans inclusive world
#stuc19 Following a passionate debate, Congress backed a call from the STUC LGBT+ Conference to put pressure on the Scottish ... Read More
Social Work publications
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
Draft Regulations relating to Public Bodies (Joint Working) (Scotland) Act Set 1 response
As far as we can see there is nothing in these regulations that refer to the Chief Officer of the ... Read More
Briefing 55: Bargaining – Health and social care integration regulations – Set 2
KEY POINTS: These regulations (set 2) implement the Scottish Government’s plans for health and social care integration They prescribe which ... Read More
Briefing 53: Bargaining – Health and social care integration regulations – Set 1
KEY POINTS: These regulations implement the Scottish Government’s plans for health and social care integration They prescribe what information must ... Read More
Scotland: It’s time to care
The shocking reality of Scotland's care services The care of older people in Scotland is a national disgrace. Our care ... Read More
Online response to SSSC fitness to practice proposed changes
1. The "fitness to practise" criteria is very vague and it is not clear to us what objective standards the ... Read More
UNISON’s Ethical Care Charter
A number of reports from client organisations, consumer groups, and homecare providers have recently been produced which have been highly ... Read More
Integration of Care in Social Care in Social Care in Scotland
UNISON Scotland members have been involved in various proposals for the integration of health and care services since the late1990s ... Read More
Consultation on the Children and Young People Bill
UNISON Scotland has supported the principles of Getting it Right for Every Child (GIRFEC) since its inception and we believe ... Read More
Looked after children response
UNISON is Scotland’s largest trade union representing approximately 160,000 members working in the public sector. UNISON Scotland represents over 30,000 ... Read More