UNISON City of Edinburgh Branch welcomes the findings of the Care Inspectorate’s Inspection of adult
social work and social care services: City of Edinburgh.
The report recognises that staff are exhausted, over-worked, and carrying high caseloads in order to manage risk. UNISON own research confirmed this as far back as 2017 when our survey of the social care staff showed that 73% of respondents felt pressured to take on more work than they could manage, and that 52% had experienced work-related ill-health in the past two years.
The report also confirms that staff are committed to their roles and motivated to delivering and improving care and support for people and carers, despite the challenges of underfunding, excessive workloads and high vacancy levels. The report also says that starting salaries in Edinburgh are lower than in neighbouring local authorities and this is hindering recruitment, again something UNISON has been trying to change.
It’s essential that we integrate health and social care services successfully. We need to move care from acute health settings in hospitals into the community. And that can only be done if Scottish Government fund staff social work and social care services properly.
Greig Kelbie
UNISON Scotland