Blog & News
Note - This is an actively revised website, comments/corrections to webmaster@tokandmchurch.co.uk. This website will soon be updated to the 'Edinburgh Northwest Kirk' website.
Petitioning for Fair Wage for Care Staff (June '23)
Friday 9th June 2023
Faith leaders have met together under a joint initiative hosted by the Catholic Church and the Church of Scotland, to launch a campaign to unite the views of the faith communities on an urgent call to Scottish Government for fair pay to all social care workers.
The campaign sits within a backdrop of a national recruitment crisis. While recruitment issues exist for many industries, the challenge for third sector providers is made particularly difficult by the fact there is a recognised delay to deliver a promise of fair pay to the social care workforce.
Community Integrated Care recently commissioned a report Unfair to Care which highlights that shortages of staff and inconsistencies in staffing are cutting across the nature of the care and support that is being able to be provided. It is having an effect on the choices that people can make and the activities that are on offer as well as a knock-on effect on good communications between supported people and those supporting them.
Longer term reform is needed and is currently being worked through the Scottish Parliament by way of the National Care Service Bill. Despite some recent welcome additions from the Scottish Government, an immediate review for fair pay for social care is required to ensure that we retain a sector that is viable for years to come.
The event heard from Viv Dickenson CEO of CrossReach who highlighted the challenges being faced and outlined how the sector is responding in a number of ways. This includes further campaign work with CCPS and Scottish Care. The Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland and the Archbishop of Glasgow spoke as faith leaders offering the biblical view that as people of God we are called to repair the world on behalf of the unheard communities. Valuable perspectives were also heard from people working within the sector. Watch highlights from the event and hear from the speakers.
The event concluded with the signing of a declaration by The Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland and the Archbishop of Glasgow.
