A damning report into Scotland's home care service claims the sector is at breaking point, with vulnerable people failing to receive the care they need.
The UNISON Scotland report reveals claims from many carers that they are given too little time to properly care for clients, with some receiving less than 15 minute slots because travel times are not accounted for.
Staff also claim budget cuts and privatisation mean that the emphasis in the sector is now on "quantity rather than quality".
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The We Care, Do You? report, released today (Wed), also shows carers often go without pay for travelling time between visits and regularly have to work longer than their contracted hours.
Stephen Smellie, UNISON Scotland’s depute convener, said: "This report highlights the shocking truths of a dedicated, caring workforce who are being stretched to the limit, often resulting in their own stress and ill-health.
"They juggle with travelling time and running late, to ensure their tasks are completed as best as they can, some often go back in their own time to make sure their clients’ needs are met.
"The most vulnerable people in our society rely on the services our home carers provide. They deserve better, much better – and so do care workers.
"This should include a decent, and reliable, wage for the work they do, with proper facilities and a workload which allows them to do their job properly. They care for us, it is only right that we in turn care for them."
The report, which surveyed home carers across the country, states that 9 in 10 carers are limited to specific times for client visits.
Many contradicted the claim by councils that 15 minute time slots are only allocated to those with minimal needs, while some also claimed that scheduling often does not consider travel time between visits.
Freedom of information requests by UNISON reveal that 25 councils pay staff for travelling expenses, but four only pay their own staff, not contracted workers. Three councils confirmed they do not pay at all, while one said it varied.
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Some councils also admitted to only paying their own staff for the time they spent travelling.
UNISON claim that with the majority of care being carried out by private contractors, local authorities have little control over how home care is delivered.
While almost all councils say they pay the Scottish Living Wage to their own staff, not many believe their contractors do so.
The recent Procurement Act allows payment of the living wage to be a factor in the issuing of contracts, but the councils who responded to UNISON said they did not use the procurement guidelines.
Dave Watson, UNISON’s head of policy and public affairs, said: “As austerity bites, it seems care in the home is being perceived as the ‘cheap option’ compared to the cost of care homes or hospitals.
“The Scottish Government’s commitment to ensure the Scottish Living Wage is paid this October is a welcome step forward.
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"In addition to fair pay, it is vital that Scotland’s councils sign up to UNISON’s Ethical Care Charter which sets minimum standards for home care.
"It is particularly disappointing that the opportunities provided by the Procurement Act have not as yet been taken up by local authorities."
COSLA said that councils recognise the importance of fair work practices, but questions remain over how any increases in pay would be funded.
A spokesman for the council body added: "COSLA secured additional resources as part of the 2016/17 local government settlement to help fund our commitment to ensuring the Scottish Living Wage is paid to care workers providing direct care and support, whether they work for a council or contracted provider."
The Scottish Government added that it has invested £500 million over three years to "support the integration of health and social care", as well as allocating a further £250m from the NHS to integration authorities to help support care workers being paid the living wage.
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