Scotland's adult social care workforce is set for a significant boost as the Scottish Government reopens its Adult Social Care Displaced Workers Scheme, a move designed to help deliver up to 45,000 additional hours of care every month.
The scheme supports social care employers in recruiting international care workers already living in the UK who have lost sponsored employment through no fault of their own. By helping experienced workers re-enter the sector quickly, the initiative aims to increase workforce resilience and address growing demand for care services across Scotland.
Since its launch, the programme has enabled 37 social care employers to recruit 120 workers, helping strengthen frontline services and improve care capacity.
The announcement comes as pressures continue to mount across adult social care, driven by an ageing population and rising demand for support. The Scottish Government says expanding the workforce is critical to ensuring services can meet current and future needs.
John Swinney, Scottish First Minister
“We are all too familiar with the challenges facing our adult social care sector, especially given our ageing population, and it’s why we must ensure services meet our growing demand for care. I committed to provide an extra 45,000 hours of care each month and we have begun to deliver that increase within the first 100 days of the new government.
“UK Government decisions on immigration have inflicted pain on our social care sector at a time when demand for care is increasing and its choices on tax have heaped an £84 million bill on the sector by increasing Employers’ National Insurance contributions. The Prime Minister has spoken about reforming social care services, but meaningful reform requires a workforce to deliver it. I urge him to reconsider and to reverse the harm done by the UK Government over the past two years.
“I am grateful to have the opportunity to hear first-hand the positive impact our scheme has had and how we can – and must – explore every option available to ensure we continue to make a positive difference to people’s lives and to a service which we all may one day need.”
The reopening of the scheme forms part of wider efforts to support Scotland's social care sector, improve workforce stability and ensure providers can continue delivering high-quality care to people in communities across the country.
As workforce shortages continue to challenge adult social care providers, sector leaders will be watching closely to see whether expanded recruitment initiatives can help bridge staffing gaps while supporting longer-term reform ambitions.
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