Pathways to Progress
What is Pathways to Progress?
Pathways to Progress is a three-year project aiming to enhance fair work in Scotland’s social care sector. Delivered by Living Wage Scotland at the Poverty Alliance, Pathways to Progress is one of 10 projects funded through the Robertson Trust’s Work Pathways programme. These projects are looking at different aspects of improving job quality to tackle in-work poverty in Scotland.
The Context
The social care sector is facing key challenges, and more support and recognition of the sector is needed to ensure its sustainability. Within this context, Pathways to Progress is looking to work with social care workers and employers to identify pathways to implement fair work practice within social care organisations.
What the project will involve
We are working to find practical pathways to change - ways to improve people’s protection from poverty while working in social care. This includes exploring how better pay, secure hours, pensions, and other Fair Work standards can be achieved in practice. A key focus will be understanding how ready employers are to implement Living Hours.
As a part of this project, we are working closely with two large third-sector care providers to understand what changes can be made across their organisations to support Fair Work.
To ensure worker voices are at the heart of this project, we’ll also be speaking directly with frontline care staff about their day-to-day experiences.
The project will develop eight case studies with care providers from both the voluntary and private sectors. These case studies will highlight a range of approaches, challenges, and successes, including examples from organisations working towards Living Wage Scotland accreditations.
Our work will be guided by a Social Care Expert Group, which will provide advice, strengthen the project’s direction, and support the sharing of learning across the sector.
Sharing Learning
We’ll share the insights and resources developed through this project with employers, workers, and others across the social care sector. The findings will also inform our wider work, including policy influencing at The Poverty Alliance and employer engagement through Living Wage Scotland.