Care Careers (Men and Young People)

– in the Scottish Parliament at on 26 November 2015.

Alert me about debates like this

Photo of Rhoda Grant Rhoda Grant Labour

5. To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing and what funds it has allocated to make care a more attractive career choice for men and young people. (S4O-04868)

Photo of Shona Robison Shona Robison Scottish National Party

Recruitment, retention and the development of career pathways in the social services sector is a key area of action in “Social Services in Scotland: a shared vision and strategy 2015–2020”, which was published earlier this year.

The Scottish Social Services Council has produced a number of different resources to support those who are looking to recruit staff and for those who are looking at a career in the care sector. A key resource is the ambassadors for careers in care scheme. Those ambassadors are staff who currently work in the sector who attend events and visit schools and careers fairs to promote careers in the sector. There are currently 100 ambassadors.

Earlier this year, we agreed to provide funding of £10 million per year, as part of a tripartite arrangement with local authorities and care providers that is worth £20 million, to improve the quality of care in care homes for older people as part of our wider approach to tackling issues of recruitment and retention in the sector.

Photo of Rhoda Grant Rhoda Grant Labour

I wrote to the cabinet secretary last month asking her to meet my constituents who are GMB Scotland members and have real concerns about pay, conditions and job security for care workers. Those issues make careers in caring very unattractive. The cabinet secretary turned down that request, saying that she was too busy to meet my constituents. How on earth will she deal with the crisis in the care service if she will not even listen to the views of the people who are working at the coalface?

Photo of Shona Robison Shona Robison Scottish National Party

I certainly do listen to the views of those at the coal face. I regularly meet staff from not just the health side but the care side. Of course, we continue to discuss with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and the sector what more can be done to improve pay and conditions. I am certainly more than willing to look at the request for a meeting with the GMB, but Rhoda Grant should be assured that the issue is a key priority for us. I am very happy to engage with front-line staff, and continue to do that.

Photo of Alex Rowley Alex Rowley Labour

Does the minister recognise that low pay is a major barrier to recruitment and retention in the sector? Is she willing to consider the Government’s role in introducing a living wage across the care sector, as that would seem to be the correct way to move forward?

Photo of Shona Robison Shona Robison Scottish National Party

I am sure that Alex Rowley is aware that we have given, and continue to give our full attention to that issue. Some progress has been made and the guidance published on 6 October makes it clear that the Scottish Government regards the payment of the living wage to be a significant indicator of an employer’s commitment to fair work practices. That is one of the clearest ways in which an employer can demonstrate that they take a positive approach to their workforce.

In addition to the £20 million deal with the care home sector, we continue to discuss with that sector, the care at home sector and COSLA what progress we can make towards implementing the living wage as quickly as possible. What we must also do within that, though, is protect capacity in the sector. We must ensure that progress is made at a pace that protects that capacity. Those discussions are on-going and I am happy to keep the member updated as we move forward with them.

Photo of Tricia Marwick Tricia Marwick None

Question 6, in the name of Patricia Ferguson, has not been lodged. The member has provided an explanation that I am satisfied with.