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

Vote down the National Care Service Bill, UNISON urges MSPS

Scotland’s largest union, UNISON, is urging MSPs not to support the National Care Service Bill being voted on in Holyrood ...

UNISON Week 343 – NHS and social care in crisis and more

UNISON Week 343 - NHS and social care in crisisand more ... Read full newsletter here ...

UNISON assembles ‘coalition of concern’ over National Care Service legislation

Public services union UNISON is today (TUES)  bringing together a wide coalition of organisations who have concerns about the impact ...

UNISON Week 338: Let’s be “sensible” about pay, four day week pilot disappointment & more

UNISON Week 338: Let's be "sensible" about pay, four day week pilot disappointment & more. Read full newsletter here ...

UNISON Week-336 – now it’s time to defend councils, care workers travel, university strikes and more.

UNISON Week-336 - now it's time to defend councils, care workers travel, university strikes and more. Read full newsletter here ...

Public funding must be contingent on union recognition

#STUC22 The Fair Work demand for effective voice for workers, so lauded by the Scottish Government, was spotlighted again in ...

Workers’ voice fundamental to Fair Work and equality

#STUC22 heard about the vital role Fair Work could play in delivering equality and justice in the workplace and will ...

Urgent investment needed in NHS and social care

#STUC22 Congress heard that the COVID-19 pandemic has ruthlessly exposed the many deep and underlying problems in our economy. These ...

More on Community and Voluntary Sector page

Reports and briefings

thumbnail of Post Stage One NCS Bill Briefing 141 (2)

Briefing 141 – National Care Service Bill Update

The General Principles of the National Care Service Bill were approved by Parliament on 29 February. This briefing summarises where ... Read More
thumbnail of FINAL Local Governance response Feb 2024

Democracy Matters: Local governance Phase 2 consultation

This is UNISON's response to the Scottish Government and COSLA  ‘Democracy Matters: Local governance Phase 2 consultation’. The consultation is ... Read More
thumbnail of Policy Briefing 139 Revised NCS Jan 2024

Briefing 139 – National Care Service: Revised Government Plans

The Scottish Government has radically revised its plans for a National Care Service.   This follows negotiations with COSLA and the ... Read More
thumbnail of national-care-service-scotland-summary-PRINT

Towards a REAL National Care Service – Summary Report

This is the Summary of a report commissioned by UNISON Scotland from APSE, the Association for Public Service Excellence and ... Read More
thumbnail of NCS Bill Update October 2023 e-briefing (002)

e brief – Update on the National Care Service Bill October 2023

Since its introduction in June 2022, UNISON has campaigned for the National Care Service Bill to be withdrawn. We want ... Read More
thumbnail of SSSC E-briefing October 2023

e brief – SSSC Consultation on Proposed Register Changes

The Scottish Social Services Council is consulting on 3 changes it wishes to make to the Register. These changes affect ... Read More
thumbnail of Briefing 131 – safe staffing consultation care

Briefing 131 – Consultation on Safe Staffing Statutory Guidance: Care Services

The Scottish Government is consulting on its draft Statutory Guidance for safe staffing in health and care. The Health and ... Read More
thumbnail of UNISON Response Winter Preparedness Health Social Care Cttee July23

Winter preparedness – response to Health, Social Care & Sport Committee

This is UNISON Scotland's response to the Scottish Parliament's Health, Social Care and Sport Committee’s call for evidence[1] for the ... Read More
thumbnail of Scottish Household Survey Policy Briefing 127 2023

Briefing 127 – Scottish Household Survey 2021

This briefing looks at some key findings of the Scottish Household Survey 2021. This is a general population survey carried ... Read More
thumbnail of LG Overview Report Policy Briefing 126 2023

Briefing 126 – Local Government Overview Report 2023

This briefing is on the May 2023 Audit Scotland Local Government Overview report for the Accounts Commission. The report looks ... Read More

More on Community and Voluntary Sector page