Staff working across children’s social care services will see their pay increase to at least £12 an hour.

The pay rise is to be backdated for all hours work from April 2024, and will uplift the wages of those working in a direct care role in the voluntary, private and independent children’s care services to the same level of their adult social care counterparts.

Backed by over £19m this year, the funding is set to reach more than 6,000 people, with the government saying the increased hourly rate could be worth more than £2,000 a year for some staff.

This comes after leading voices in the social care sector last year urged the government to deliver wage uplifts above the £12 an hour minimum, saying that action for social care workers “can’t wait”.

Announcing the pay increase for children’s care workers today, Minister for Children, Young People and The Promise Natalie Don recognised the “invaluable” work of these staff, saying:

“This uplift is an important step forward in supporting our highly valued social care staff across Scotland.

“The support they provide is invaluable and the government is committed to ensuring no-one is paid less than the Real Living Wage.

“Children’s social care services couldn’t be delivered without our private, voluntary and independent sector providers and this funding will help support the sustainability of their services.

“The implementation of this uplift would not have been possible without close working with our partners especially with COSLA and with Health and Social Care Partnerships.”

This funding is set to help people caring for vulnerable children and young people under the age of 18, including personal assistants, staff in care at home, secure accommodation, residential special school and children and young people care home services.

A minimum pay rise to £12 an hour was a commitment set out in the 2023 Programme for government by then-First Minister Humza Yousaf, but has since been criticised by over 100 organisations as undervaluing social care.

A COSLA Spokesperson today says the rise to £12 an hour for children’s social care workers is one way to show how valued the workforce is:

"The children's social care workforce are vital in supporting our children and young people.

“Paying them the real living wage is one way in which we can show how highly they are valued, and we will continue to work with our private, voluntary and independent sector providers on how we best support and Keep the Promise made to Scotland's children and young people.”

Read more: Children services need more than structural change; Reframing how we value carers; Doctors ‘deeply concerned' for care homes; Care services at risk from delayed payments; 20 years of Voluntary Health Scotland; Uncovering the hidden role of carers in Scotland

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