Tag: cottish Government

Join the National Discussion on education

Public to have their say at live events online

Children, young people, parents, carers and teachers are being encouraged to take part in the National Discussion on Scottish education through a series of upcoming online public events.

The first session will take place on Tuesday 22 November, with further opportunities on Wednesday 23 November and Thursday 1 December.

Anyone who has an interest in Scottish education is being invited to register to take part.

Those who register will be able to speak directly to internationally renowned education experts Professor Alma Harris and Professor Carol Campbell, who are acting as independent facilitators for the National Discussion

Prof Harris said: “We have had a fantastic response to the National Discussion so far, with engagement across a range of sectors, including from children and young people, teachers and parents.

“We are determined to be as inclusive as possible and would encourage everyone with an interest in the future of Scottish education to take part in these online public events.”

Education Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said: “The vision that is created following the National Discussion will set out what education in Scotland needs to look like not only in the near future, but 20 years from now.

“These online sessions are a great opportunity to get involved in the Discussion and to make your views heard.”

Around 3,500 responses have been received since the Discussion was launched on 21 September.

The feedback will play a vital part in shaping the future of education. This will include the reform programme that will see the creation of three new education bodies and a review of qualifications and assessment.

The National Discussion – Let’s Talk Scottish Education – which is being co-convened by COSLA, will run until 5 December.

Join the National Discussion at the Let’s Talk Scottish Education online sessions registration page

Fairer pay for social care workers

A commitment to ensure adult social care workers receive at least the Real Living Wage of £9.50 an hour has been agreed with COSLA.

Funding of £64.5 million will be committed to ensure adult social care workers will be paid at least the Real Living Wage from May 2021, backdated to April 2021. This is an important early response to the recent Independent Review of Adult Social Care and comes as a joint statement between with COSLA has been issued setting out how they will work together to deliver on the review’s recommendations.

Subject to the outcome of the Scottish Parliament elections,  minimum standards for employment terms and conditions will be developed for the sector in partnership with COSLA. This includes a requirement for ethical commissioning which ensures procurement decisions take into account factors beyond price, including fair work, terms and conditions and trade union recognition.

There will also be new measures introduced to ensure staff, the majority of whom are women, are able to raise concerns, respond to local conditions and support an effective collective bargaining role in a sector where staff currently lack a clear representative voice.  

The Scottish Government and COSLA have also jointly committed to working together to deliver recommendations of the independent review, including:  

  • ending charging for non-residential services as soon as possible
  • introducing agreed ethical commissioning principles 
  • overhauling eligibility criteria to ensure social care support is based on human rights and needs
  • implementing measures to put voices of those with lived experience at the heart of policy development and service delivery
  • ensuring unpaid carers are fully supported to continue in their caring roles

Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said: “Social care workers do a critical and invaluable job and they should be paid fairly for it. The Scottish Government want Scotland’s social care services to be high quality and consistent for those who use them and also for those who deliver them.

“Derek Feeley’s Independent Review of Adult Social Care set out clearly the need for better recognition and treatment of the, largely female, workforce, describing this as a key issue of equality and gender fairness, as well as an investment in critical service provision. The Scottish Government agree with those conclusions.

“This funding will help support a move to an ethical approach to commissioning which recognises the economic and social value of the work that staff in social care do, and that decisions must be about more than just price.”

COSLA Health and Social Care Spokesperson Councillor Stuart Currie said: “This statement of intent will allow work to begin now which will make improvements to adult social care in Scotland, and I welcome this progress.

“It is evident that there is significant discussion needed around the areas in the review that relate to governance and accountability within the report.

“However, COSLA Leaders are clear that there is much in the report to be welcomed  particularly the principles in relation to empowering people, valuing the workforce and embedding a human rights-based approach in social care.”

Renewable heat scheme for homeowners

Support to reduce energy usage

A new £4.5 million cashback incentive to help people install renewable and energy efficiency measures in their homes has been announced by the Scottish Government.

Homeowners will be able to apply for 75% cashback up to the value of £7,500 towards the cost of a renewable heating system and a further 40% cashback up to £6,000 for energy efficiency measures.

This is in addition to the £4 million renewable heat cashback scheme for SMEs which opened for applications last week.

Scotland’s Energy Minister, Paul Wheelhouse, said: “This new scheme is part of our ongoing work to support people to install renewable heat measures and the improve energy efficiency in homes across Scotland while we also seek to stimulate development of local supply chains. 

“The Scottish Government already provides a substantial free advice and support service to Scottish households to support them to make the transition to renewable heat and improve energy efficiency in their homes.

“Through this new cashback incentive homeowners could receive up to £13,500 of Scottish Government support, helping them to improve energy efficiency in their homes, reduce energy usage and save money on their bills.

“This new scheme is part of our action to reduce emissions from heating our buildings and to support a green economic recovery from COVID-19 and I hope suitably qualified businesses are able to also pick up some valuable local work. Our wider package of work to support the recovery includes a £4 million renewable heat cashback scheme which opened to SMEs last week.”

The cashback offering for owners of domestic premises is an extension of the Home Energy Scotland loan scheme which offers interest free loans for those wishing to install renewable and energy efficiency measures in their homes.

Through the new offering, £4.5 million will be allocated across the new incentive to offer homeowners a 75% cash back up to £7,500 for renewable heat measures and an enhanced 40% cashback for energy efficiency measures up to £6,000. Both incentives operate on a first-come-first-served basis until the end of financial year 2020/21.

More information about the cashback grant scheme to encourage homeowners can be found on the Home Energy Scotland website.

More information about the SME loan scheme cashback, which launched last week, including how to apply, is available on the Zero Waste Scotland website.