ALLIANCE calls for further Living Wage progress in social care
- Area of Work: The ALLIANCE
- Type: News Item
- Published: 18th December 2020
Responding to a consultation on the impact of the Procurement Reform Act, the ALLIANCE highlighted a gap between pay for day and night care.
The ALLIANCE has today submitted its response to a Scottish Parliament committee scrutinising the impact of the Procurement Reform (Scotland) Act 2014. The Economy, Energy and Fair Work Committee has been asking for views on how the act has affected fair work as part of public procurement contracts.
In drafting a response to the consultation, the ALLIANCE has drawn upon the experience of our members, many of whom engage in public procurement as part of their social care role, and our own experience in delivering the Links Worker programme in more than 30 GP practices across Glasgow.
Whilst welcoming increases in wages for social care staff working daytime hours, we note that full implementation of a real living wage for overnight support has not yet been achieved. A survey of care providers in Scotland in August 2019 found that 54% of the rates offered for overnight care were considered insufficient to cover the full cost of implementation.
We highlighted remarks by COSLA that better pay and conditions elsewhere was one of the driving factors behind social care workers, who are overwhelmingly women, leaving the workforce. We therefore urge that social care workers should be paid the Scottish living wage for every hour worked. We also consider that Fair Work practices go beyond the living wage, and that staff should receive remuneration that accurately reflects the value of the work done.
In response to questions about procurement processes, we raised concerns that competitive tendering processes can hinder rather than help partnership working, as well as contradict the values of self-directed support. Reflecting on the findings of ALLIANCE engagement activity to inform the Independent Review of Social Care, the response also suggests that greater community involvement in commissioning would be an improvement.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, many public bodies took a more flexible approach to commissioning. This was a key contributor to the effective and rapid response of the third sector to the challenges facing society. A permanent reduction in bureaucratic requirements would help ensure that third sector social care organisations could continue that excellent work in the long term.
You can read the full ALLIANCE consultation response via the links below.
End of page.
You may also like:
Companions of blind and partially sighted people can now travel for free on ScotRail trains.
Continue readingThe ALLIANCE welcomes the homecare medicines review to improve care for those who need it.
Continue readingThe ALLIANCE wants to hear about your communication experiences
Continue readingRead a statement from our Chief Officer, Sara Redmond, on the recent social security announcement from the UK government.
Continue readingThe conference celebrates the range of work developed as part of Collective Advocacy facilitated by CAPS.
Continue readingThe £1m Commissioning Fund is a pivotal resource within the FORTH2O project, designed to spark investment.
Continue readingCould you help shape the future of Human Rights in Scotland? Apply to join the SNAP2 Leadership Panel
Continue readingVisit the Defib finder website to find the defibrillators closest to you.
Continue readingScottish Recovery Network are hosting a series of workshops on peer support in suicide prevention across Scotland this April.
Continue readingHave your say on what you would like to see from a future Contact Scotland BSL service.
Continue readingThe ALLIANCE and Scottish Government have produced several resources on heathy aging, in support of the Women's Health Plan.
Continue readingApril is Bowel Cancer Awareness Month, a fantastic annual opportunity to raise awareness of bowel cancer.
Continue readingThe UN ICESCR Committee has issued its recommendations and several reflect points made by the ALLIANCE and our members.
Continue readingEPI-SCOT aims to understand how knowing the cause of a young person’s epilepsy might lead to more effective treatments.
Continue readingThe report states that community health and social care finances are increasingly precarious, and encourages IJBs to work with partners.
Continue readingThis year has seen continued growth in membership, reach and impact, through our delivery of a diverse range of programmes,
Continue readingCarers Scotland launches their State of Caring in Scotland 2024 research report.
Continue readingThe ALISS team is delighted to announce the launch of ALISS Analytics, a new tool designed to provide easy access to valuable data on ALISS.
Continue readingThe Digital Citizen Panel is pleased to share the first member spotlight, highlighting member Pasna Sallis and her work with older adults
Continue readingThe ALLIANCE responds to the Equality, Human Rights, and Civil Justice Committee's inquiry into the the Public Sector Equality Duty.
Continue readingRaise awareness and support history making for the Deaf Community in Fife.
Continue readingEvery Tuesday the Discover Digital team at the ALLIANCE shares a free and trusted digital tool that supports health and wellbeing.
Continue readingOur response calls for a human rights based approach to outcomes, and to consider how to strengthen the SHRC.
Continue readingResearchers at the University of Strathclyde want to hear your opinions about what the hospitals of the future should look and feel like
Continue readingThe ALLIANCE are establishing a peer network to connect professionals working in Glasgow who are passionate about digital inclusion.
Continue reading