CCPS response to snapshot report of the SSSC Register

CCPS welcomes the publication of the snapshot report on the social services workforce from the Scottish Social Services Council.

A sustainable social care workforce is essential to delivering Scottish Government’s reform ambitions and requires fair funding, investment in services and support for workforce recruitment and retention.

Public service reform emphasises supporting people to live independently and reducing reliance on more intensive forms of care, which makes the loss of over 2,000 Care at Home workers especially concerning. More information is needed to understand what is driving this decline, including how it is distributed across public, private and third sector providers, and whether particular parts of the sector are experiencing greater workforce pressures.

The changes in the figures for residential childcare and residential school care accommodation also highlight the importance of accurate and consistent workforce intelligence. While the SSSC attributes much of this change to the reclassification of records, it is important that these adjustments are clearly understood and do not obscure the actual position of the children’s residential workforce. Successful reform will depend on understanding the size, composition and skills of this workforce which will be essential in planning and developing services that meet the needs of children and young people. 

CCPS also welcomes the number of workers achieving the qualifications required for registration. A skilled and appropriately qualified workforce is essential to delivering high-quality care and support. However, qualification levels are only one part of the picture. Providers must have the resources and support to recruit, retain and develop the workforce, and people working in social care must have access to meaningful career development opportunities. 

These figures reinforce the need for a more comprehensive understanding of workforce capacity across social care. Workforce data must translate into action to support a sustainable workforce if Scotland is to achieve its reform ambitions and ensure that people can access the care and support they need, how, when and where they need it.