Thousands of social care staff to see pay increase amid new Scottish Government funding

Thousands of social care staff are set to see an hourly pay increase amid new Scottish Government funding.

Staff in children’s social care services will see their pay increase to at least £12 per hour after a £19m funding investment.

The funding will ensure that more than 6,000 people working in a direct care role in the voluntary, private and independent sector services receive a pay increase, which could be worth more than £2,000 a year for some staff.

The increase will help people providing direct care to vulnerable children and young people under the age of 18, including personal assistants, and all payments will be backdated and provided for all hours worked from April 2024.

Minister for Children, Young People and The Promise Natalie Don said the uplift is an “important step forward” in supporting social care staff across Scotland.

“The support they provide is invaluable and the Government is committed to ensuring no-one is paid less than the Real Living Wage.

“Children’s social care services couldn’t be delivered without our private, voluntary and independent sector providers and this funding will help support the sustainability of their services,” Don added.

“The implementation of this uplift would not have been possible without close working with our partners especially with COSLA and with Health and Social Care Partnerships.”

A COSLA spokesperson said: “The children’s social care workforce are vital in supporting our children and young people.

“Paying them the real living wage is one way in which we can show how highly they are valued, and we will continue to work with our private, voluntary and independent sector providers on how we best support and Keep the Promise made to Scotland’s children and young people.”