More than 400 Scottish faith leaders have signed a declaration calling for social care workers to be paid at least £12 per hour.
It urges the Scottish Government to do everything within its power to immediately ensure that all frontline staff earn a fair wage to help them cope with the ongoing cost of living crisis.
Currently providers are feeling the impact that a Scottish Government-funded base rate of pay of just £10.90 is having on staff and services.
As a result of this many staff are leaving the workforce for better paid jobs elsewhere and there are challenges in trying to recruit new staff. This is leading to a loss of expertise and potential talent, and an undermining of key services – all of which jeopardises support for those who need it most.
The campaign which has been running since June aims to ensure that social care and support workers begin to be properly rewarded and recognised; and the people they support can thrive by getting the support they need at the right time and in the right places.
Archbishop Nolan who helped launch the campaign, said: ‘We can’t run a care system on the cheap. Carers are more than just deliverers of tasks and services. They are in relationship with the people they care for, many of whom are dependent on the carer for support and assistance.
"Our plea is not just about pay - it’s about attitudes. If we want our loved ones to have good care when they need it we need to care also for the carers and support them with decent wages."
You can see the Archbishop's video message here:
Rt Rev Sally Foster-Fulton, the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland commented ‘As people of faith we have a calling to honour care and service. Dignity and respect for others is at the very heart of the faith message. We are delighted to have this opportunity to have our collective voice heard on this matter of great importance.’
The campaign encourages members of the public to share their support by using the hashtags #4stepstofairwork and #stepchangeinsocialcare. Further details and advice on doing this can be found at www.ccpsscotland.org/campaign