Care in Crisis: New Report - Rethink on Homecare Support Needed

22nd May 2025

The annual Scottish Care at Home and Housing Support Conference & Exhibition is scheduled to took place on Friday 16 May 2025 at Radisson Blu in Glasgow.

As part of the event, Scottish Care launched an updated version of its Myth-Busting Report, which aims to dispel common misconceptions about the independent care sector.

The report provides evidence-based insights into current sector pressures and highlights the reality facing providers and staff delivering vital services in communities across the country.

Key findings from the report include: 

The independent sector delivers the majority of adult social care in Scotland, providing 87% of care homes, 86.9% of homecare services, 81.6% of all adult care services, and employing 76.7% of the sector workforce.

The economic contribution of the adult social care sector is substantial, generating £5.2 billion in Gross Value Added (GVA) - equivalent to 2.9% of Scotland's total GVA in 2023.
The independent care home sector now provides 90% of all registered places in Scotland, yet has seen a 34% decrease in residents since 2014, amid ongoing financial pressures and reduced public funding.

No Scottish council met the minimum fair price of £26.50/hour for home care in 2023, despite the actual cost now standing at £32.88/hour, exacerbating financial unsustainability.
100% of surveyed providers in 2024 reported late payments over 30 days, with average amounts owed exceeding £300,000 per provider, threatening viability and continuity of care delivery.

In response to these findings, Scottish Care calls for urgent action to address the sustainability of the independent sector, including investment to alleviate funding shortfalls, an updated cost model for care home contracts, and a transparent minimum rate for homecare packages.

Read the report HERE
Pdf 20 Pages

https://scottishcare.org/