Question reference: S5W-00197
- Asked by: Douglas Ross, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Date lodged: 24 May 2016
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Current status: Answered by Shona Robison on 6 June 2016
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what obligations under the 2016-17 National Care Home Contract charitable organisations have to pay the living wage to care staff, and what action it could take if they fail to do so.
Answer
The 2016-17 National Care Home Contract agreed between COSLA and providers has been amended to require any providers delivering publicly funded care under the contract to pay all care workers a minimum of £8.25 per hour from 1 October 2016.
As part of the 2016-17 budget we have taken action to protect and grow our social care services and deliver our shared priorities by investing a further £250 million in health and social care partnerships. Part of this investment is to enable local authorities to pay a living wage to care workers providing care and support to adults in care homes, care at home and housing support settings - including in the independent and third sector.
Partnership working between the Scottish Government, local government and our stakeholders, including the third and independent sectors, is key to ensuring we achieve the intended outcomes of this additional investment and it is expected that local authorities will work closely with care providers to assess the investment required to ensure payment of the living wage.