Adult care boss says health sector lacks "optimistic leadership"
Highland Home Carers (HHC) Managing Director Campbell Mair feels they're currently facing "insurmountable challenges"
Last updated 3rd Mar 2023
A top healthcare boss says the health sector in Scotland has "lacked optimistic leadership"
Highland Home Carers (HHC) Managing Director Campbell Mair feels adult health care is currently facing "insurmountable challenges"
He also wants to see more effort put into not only recruiting staff, but also retaining workers.
The Scottish Government say they helped fund two pay rises in two years for social care staff and are working on improved terms and conditions.
'Brave, courageous and optimistic leadership' needed in health
Speaking while SNP Leadership Candidate Kate Forbes visited the HHC office this week, Campbell was asked for his thoughts on the current Health Secretary's handling of the sector.
He said: "Some brave, some courageous and some optimistic leadership is required.
"I think we've lacked optimistic leadership within the current structures, and I think we've lacked courage in convictions and decision making."
The HHC boss also feels the sector has been under pressure for the last two to three years.
He added: "What we have is a very significant gap between rhetoric and reality and until that is bridged, the sector will continue to face what sometimes feels like insurmountable challenges.
"Improving retention and recruitment is I believe at the heart of making progress around any kind of national care service.
"I think that putting them in that order, retaining the good people we have in our sector is just as important as recruiting new colleagues.
"We have to look at how we commission and how we put in place the soil conditions for our workforce and our populations to be commissioned in entirely differently and in ways which deliver fair work."
Social care hit by "triple whammy"
Social Care Minister Kevin Stewart says they are committed to improving pay and conditions for adult carers.
He said: Social care has been hit by a triple whammy of Brexit, the pandemic, and rising costs of energy and inflation and I am grateful to all the staff and partners who have been working with us to look at solutions.
"Extra Scottish Government funding has already helped deliver two pay rises for staff in two years and we are currently working on improved terms and conditions, such as sick pay and maternity/ paternity pay.
"Our plan for a National Care Service – which will be the biggest public service reform since devolution – focuses in on providing person-centred care and we are fully committed to improving pay and conditions for the social care workforce as we recognise and value the work that they do.
"We are designing how it will work with social care staff in the public, private and third sector.
“Change of this scale is necessary to deliver the consistency and quality of care and support across Scotland that people deserve.
"It reinforces our commitment to take long term action to change our society and make it a fairer and more equal place to live."