Social Work

PublicationsSupporting 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

UNISON Week 292 – No Going Back to Normal campaign & more …

UNISON Week 292 - No Going Back to Normal,  our response to the Future of Social Care and more ... Read More

No Going Back to Normal

OUR KEY WORKERS DESERVE BETTER Thousands of key workers died during the pandemic looking after us. In the public services ... Read More

No Going Back to Normal

Add your name to our letter and tell the UK government there's no going back to normal. Click here to ... Read More

UNISON Scotland statement on the Programme for Government 2020-21

UNISON Scotland welcomes the announcement today of a fundamental independent review of adult social care, led by Derek Feeley, which ... Read More

#Claim Covid Cash – 10 excuses for non-payment by private sector employers

UNISON launched its #ClaimCovidCash campaign for workers in social care who only received statutory sick pay when they had to ... Read More

Claim Covid cash – UNISON launches campaign for short changed Scottish care workers

Despite funds being made available by Scottish Government, there are still many care workers not receiving full pay for sick ... Read More

Social Work publications

Covid Social Care Worker Death in Service Payment

thumbnail of Briefing death in service july 2020
Following pressure from UNISON, the Scottish Government has agreed to make a one-off payment of £60,000 to a named survivor ... Read More

Covid Social Care Staff Support Fund

thumbnail of Bargaining briefing Social Care July 2020
UNISON campaigned hard to make sure that social care workers did not have to survive on statutory sick pay, should ... Read More

Report of the Advisory Group on Economic Recovery June 2020

thumbnail of Post Covid Economic Recovery e-brief June 2020
This briefing looks at the recommendations of the independent Advisory Group on Post-Covid 19 Economic Recovery. The Group presented its ... Read More

Briefing 114 – Living Wage in Adult Social Care

thumbnail of Bargaining Briefing 114 – Living Wage guidance April 2020
The uprated Scottish Living Wage should be paid to all workers in adult social care who are employed via contracts ... Read More

Save from harm – UNISON Scotland survey of social work teams

thumbnail of Social Work damage November 2019
This is a survey of staff working in social work teams. As well as social workers and social work assistants/support ... Read More

CCTV in Additional Support Needs Schools

thumbnail of Petition 1709 CCTV in schools Dec 2018
There is no doubt that the needs of children and young people with additional support needs (ASN) are not being ... Read More

Serco evictions condemned: Herald letter from UNISON, SASW and academics

thumbnail of refugee and asylum seeker good practice guide (webversion) final
We note with serious concern Serco’s stated intent to evict up to 300 people who have been told they cannot ... Read More

Important information for workers registered with regulatory bodies

Professional Services Bulletin
Important information for UNISON members who are registered professional members of any of the health and social care professional regulatory ... Read More

Health and Social Care Workforce Planning

thumbnail of health and care workforce planning response
The Scottish Government is consulting about a new approach to workforce planning in health and social care. In UNISON Scotland's ... Read More

Dave Watson promotes Ethical Care Charter at Lib Dem conference

Dave Watson
UNISON's Dave Watson has been promoting our Ethical Care Charter at the Lib Dem Party Conference in Perth. He has just spoken at ... Read More

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