AN increasing need to recruit more care and support staff means the industry must become more attractive to workers, according to one care provider.
Stoneywood Care Services Ltd believes paying the real living wage is the first step towards a more valued and professional industry.
“The care industry is in high demand and the need to recruit more care and support staff is on the increase,” pointed out managing director Ian Howie. “The industry must become more attractive to people to pursue social care as a valued and well paid professional vocation. We need to value our community workers and the Scottish living wage supports this. It is the beginning for moving forward to promote social care as a valued and professional industry.”
He said the company’s policy is to pay staff a professional wage that reflects their skills, knowledge and dedication to their work.
“Social care workers provide community care and support to vulnerable adults and to people from all walks of life.
“Community social care workers are going from house to house doing the best they can in all weathers for the people and community they serve.”
The Denny-based company provides housing support and care at home to people who have learning disabilities, mental health problems and other issues. The provider has helped secure accommodation for people, some of whom were previously in residential care, and the outreach team supports people in various types of individual accommodation across Denny and Falkirk.
Stoneywood House and Villa, which was established in 1991, is part of Stoneywood Care Services Ltd and provides 24-hours transitional support to adults with learning disabilities. It provides planned and structured support – both short and long term – and care focusses on personal development, emotional support and stability.
Stoneywood’s decision to become an accredited living wage employer was welcomed by Dr Donald Macaskill, CEO of Scottish Care.
“It is always a moment of congratulation when a social care provider is able to become a living wage organisation,” he said. “I am delighted Stoneywood has joined those ranks.
“Faced with the immense challenges of attracting the brightest and the best into social care, regardless of age and background, paying a decent wage and offering fair and equitable terms and conditions makes both business and common sense.
“The aspiration of creating a care sector which is human rights-based, which values dignity and gives real choice to those who use it, can only be achieved when all involved are working in the same direction. That means that at national and local government levels there must be a growing recognition that we need to better resource those who do the immense work of care. Good social care allows our society to function, good carers are the lifeblood of our communities.
He added: “It continues to sadden me that we should see the living wage as an aspiration rather than as a starting point for one of the most important jobs in Scotland today, a job of care and support which allows our citizens to live to the fullest possible extent until the moment they die. Care deserves more. Scotland can do better.”
The UK “living wage” is merely a minimum wage for staff over 25 years old. The rate is £7.83 per hour as of April 2018. It is based on median earnings while the Living Wage Foundation rate of £8.75 is based on the cost of living.
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