Independent health and social care in Scotland

Many of our members in Scotland are employed in independent health and social care (IHSC).

This includes members working in settings outside the NHS such as:

Care homes
Nursing agencies
Independent hospitals
General practices

As the voice of nursing, we’re committed to connecting, engaging and representing nursing staff, no matter what sector or setting you’re employed in. This page signposts to useful information and resources about IHSC in Scotland. For more general information about IHSC across the UK, please see our ‘Nursing across independent health and social care’ page.

If you can’t find what you’re looking for, please contact Carol Dale, our Lead Nurse for Independent Health and Social Care in Scotland, at Carol.Dale@rcn.org.uk.

Dedicated care home nurse announced as RCN Scotland Nurse of the Year 2025

Described by her colleagues as a champion of the value of care home nursing, Kirsty is celebrated for fostering a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement at Rashielee Care Home in Erskine. Her leadership has transformed the care home into a thriving, inclusive environment where residents, families, and staff feel valued and supported.

Passionate care home nurse scoops top prize at national nursing awards

Jennifer Carruthers, Deputy Manager at Rashielee Care Home in Erskine, was announced as the winner of the RCN Scotland Care Home Nursing Award at the dazzling RCN Scotland Nurse of the Year Awards ceremony tonight (12 June 2025).

RCN Scotland Care Home Nursing for Older Adults Community of Practice

Are you passionate about care home nursing?

Join our community of practice for registered nurses working in care homes for older adults. This community is a place for you to learn, share ideas and build your professional support network.

We aim to hold four meetings a year, where you will hear from experts and discuss and reflect on what matters to you as a care home nurse. Book now for our first session.

Join the August session

General practice nursing pay in Scotland

Nurses employed directly by general practices in Scotland should receive a 5.5% pay increase for 2024-25. Find out more.

A call to care homes in Scotland

We're putting together a report into the experiences of care home workers in Scotland. We want to understand the challenges you face and celebrate all the good work that you do.

If you're a manager, regional staff, nurse or support staff working in a care home in Scotland, we want to hear from you. If you're involved with care homes in other ways, such as care home liaison or as a student nurse on placement, we also want to hear from you.

Understanding the IHSC workforce in Scotland

The Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) estimated that there were 6,970 nurses working in independent health and social care in Scotland in 2022.

Care homes make up the largest group of IHSC employers, with over half (56%) of nurses registered with the SSSC employed directly in care homes for adults. In addition to registered nurses, an estimated 33,480 care workers are working in adult care homes in Scotland.

Nursing agencies make up the next largest group of employers, employing 4 in 10 (39%) of nurses registered with the SSSC. These agencies supply significant numbers of staff to both the NHS and other IHSC settings.

Other employers include independent hospitals and hospices, general practices, care at home support services and prisons.

General nursing resources

Most of the resources on our website are relevant to all members – no matter what sector or setting you’re employed in. This includes many of our advice guides and subject guides, as well as the clinical information on RCN Learn.

Infographic of a person reading an advice guide

Events

News

1 May 2024
Share your views on safe staffing

Scotland’s safe staffing legislation - the Health and Care (Staffing) (Scotland) Act 2019 – came into force last month. We want to understand and measure the impact of the Act.
21 Mar 2024
Impact of the pandemic on nursing staff shared with the Scottish COVID-19 Inquiry

Senior RCN Scotland staff have told the Scottish COVID-19 Inquiry that nursing staff carried the heavy burden of the COVID-19 pandemic as they worked in hospitals, care homes, general practice, the community and beyond.
15 Mar 2024
RCN Scotland calls for better support and compensation for nursing staff who remain impacted by long COVID

Ahead of a Holyrood debate this week to mark International long COVID awareness day, we briefed MSPs on the devastating impact of long COVID and are calling for nursing staff who contracted COVID at work, and whose lives are still affected, to be better supported.
16 Nov 2023
RCN Scotland calls for the Scottish government to act now on social care

The Scottish government must take urgent action now to tackle the major challenges facing the social care sector, rather than wait until the creation of a National Care Service (NCS).

Blogs

5 blog posts

Carol Dale 17 Jun 2025
A gentle revolution: Namaste Care

The word ‘namaste’ carries a beautiful meaning – ‘to honour the spirit within’. In care homes across the world, this profound concept has transformed into a revolutionary approach to caring for our older people.
Victoria Khan 16 May 2025
‘Everything but bored’ – a children's nurse in the independent school sector

Life as a children's nurse in an independent school can be as varied and fulfilling as any other setting, writes Victoria (Tor) Khan.
Carol Dale 9 May 2024
Reshaping the narrative around care homes and the nursing staff who work there

Carol Dale, our Lead Nurse for Independent Health and Social Care in Scotland, discusses the challenges facing care homes and why she still has hope for the future.
Colin Poolman 17 Jan 2024
Why we do not support the National Care Service Bill

Despite agreeing with the aims behind the Bill, Colin Poolman outlines why we cannot support it.
Carol Dale 2 Aug 2023
Using technology to improve pain management in care homes

Carol Dale, Lead Nurse for Independent Health and Social Care in Scotland, discusses how independent care nurses are exploring ways to improve pain management, including using digital technology.