Private Care Sector Workforce Initiative
History & Development
Scottish Care
Scottish Care is regarded as the main voice of the independent care home sector in Scotland. It is a not for profit organisation, with over 650 homes in its membership and it represents around 74% of all care homes including many from the voluntary sector.
In 2007, Scottish Care was successful in attracting funding from the Scottish Government, through the Changing Lives programme, to undertake a Workforce Development Project to determine the current and future skills needs of care homes for older people in Scotland and to develop a strategy to facilitate the development of the workforce.
Scottish Care at Home
Scottish Care at Home was established in January 2006 as a national representative organisation for the independent care at home and housing support sector when a few providers' met to discuss the formation of one dedicated organisation to represent their interests. Now Scottish Care at Home represents approximately 50% of the private sector's care at home and housing support services.
From October 2007 to April 2008 Scottish Care at Home was funded through the Scottish Government's Changing Lives programme to undertake a workforce development survey of independent care at home services in Scotland.
Following the above Workforce Surveys both organisations worked together to secure funding from the Scottish Government to manage the Private Care Sector Workforce Initiative in partnership - on behalf of the wider private health and social care sector in Scotland.
The Workforce Initiative is managed in the short term by a Steering Group Executive comprising Scottish Care and Scottish Care at Home members. If the Initiative is approved to run until March 2010, key stakeholders will be invited to join the Steering Group.
