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The Scottish Government has committed to extend the Connecting Scotland programme over the course of this Parliament to reach a total of 300,000 people. Work is underway to scope the future service, including how best to reach priority groups who we know are most likely to be digitally excluded, including ethnic minority and migrant communities. Connecting Scotland supported migrant communities in its initial phases and has recently supported Ukrainian displaced persons on arrival in Scotland.

Connecting Scotland is delivered in collaboration with key partners, including local authorities, COSLA, SCVO and third sector organisations to support access to, and the provision of, digital skills and literacy opportunities.

Additionally, as part of the New Scots Refugee Integration Delivery Project, six projects have been awarded funding to support digital inclusion for refugees. This project is part funded by the EU Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-09748 on 27 July 2022. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers .

Our Heat in Buildings Strategy, published on 7 October 2021, confirms our intention to introduce minimum energy efficiency standards equivalent to EPC C for the private rented sector alongside new standards for owner occupied housing. We propose that regulations containing this energy efficiency standard will be introduced in 2025, with a backstop date of 2028 for all privately rented properties, and 2033 for all owner occupied properties to comply. We will consult on these proposals within the coming year.

We had previously committed to introducing regulations to ensure properties in the private rented sector reach an EPC D by 2025. However, we recognise that the private rented sector has been significantly affected by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and as a result, and to reflect the need to reduce pressure on the sector, we have removed this step and are now working with the sector to introduce regulations in 2025.

As you have correctly stated, over the last five years, the Scottish Government has provided £25m to support the training of social workers by funding distributed by the Scottish Social Services Council. This includes approximately £2.7m per year for post-graduate bursaries and £2.4m per year support for practice-based learning to increase the number of entrants into the profession.

The Scottish Government has invested £25m, as part of the 2022-23 Budget, to relieve pressure on the adult social care sector. £22m of this funding was distributed based on grant aided expenditure, as agreed by COSLA Leaders, and will be used to employ additional social workers or associated social work assistants or support staff – with the clear purpose of adding to the capacity of the social work workforce. Another £2m has been given to local authorities since 2019 to provide additional capacities for MHOs.

As part of our ambition to increase access to the social work profession the Scottish Government is also working with Skills Development Scotland and the Scottish Social Services Council to explore the creation of a Graduate Apprenticeship in Social Work. We are also providing £264,000 to Robert Gordon University and Open University to support distance learning courses.

In regards to the number of social workers recruited and retained, this is not information the Scottish Government holds centrally. This would be a matter for local authorities. Please see the following table, which provides a breakdown of how many social workers are employed in local authorities. More information can be found at: Workforce data reports | Scottish Social Services Workforce Data (sssc.uk.com)

Table 1 – Number of social workers (up to December 2020)

The Scottish Government welcomes the Setting the Bar report and will consider and discuss the findings with its partners to inform and develop future social work workforce policy. Social workers make a highly skilled, unique and valuable contribution to supporting individuals and families across Scotland. We acknowledge the significant pressures social workers face around increasing workloads, staff shortages and the more complex needs of those they support – all of which have been exacerbated by COVID.

Social workers are primarily employed by local authorities and it is the responsibility of local authorities to plan their workforce and ensure they have the appropriate levels of staff in place to provide social services for their residents by among other things, ensuring adequate retention schemes are in place.

The Scottish Government is scaling up work across Scotland to ensure a mandatory supported year for the first year in practice for Newly Qualified Social Workers. Work has also started on the development of an Advanced Practice Framework that will set out the structures which support social workers to progress through different career phases.

Our ambition is to raise the status of and ensure investment in the social work profession. This is to be delivered through our commitment to establishing the National Care Service and National Social Work Agency.

Considering the findings of the report, the Scottish Government will continue to work with COSLA and other stakeholders to help local authorities maintain appropriate workforce levels.

The Scottish Government welcomes the Setting the Bar for Social Work in Scotland report and will consider and discuss the findings with its partners to inform and develop future social work workforce policy. Social workers make a highly skilled, unique and valuable contribution to supporting individuals and families across Scotland. We acknowledge the significant pressures social workers face around increasing workloads, staff shortages and the more complex needs of those they support – all exacerbated by COVID.

Social workers are primarily employed by local authorities and it is the responsibility of local authorities to plan their workforce and ensure they have the appropriate levels of staff in place to provide social services for their residents.

The Scottish Government’s investment of £25m announced as part of the 2022-23 Budget was additional funding to relieve pressure on the adult social care sector to ensure care can be delivered safely to those who need it. £22m of funding was distributed based on grant aided expenditure for adult social work for 2022-23, as agreed by COSLA Leaders, and will be used to employ additional social workers or associated social work assistants or support staff – with the clear purpose of adding to the capacity of the social work workforce to respond to the current pressures.

Over the last five years, the Scottish Government has provided over £25m to support the training of social workers during this period, including for post-graduate bursaries and support for practice-based learning to increase the number of entrants into the profession.

The recently published National Care Service (Scotland) Bill will establish a new National Social Work Agency, which will support and invest in the social work profession by providing national leadership and overseeing and supporting social work in a range of areas, including: workforce planning and social work terms and conditions.

The Scottish Government welcomes the Setting the Bar for Social Work in Scotland report and will consider and discuss the findings with its partners to inform and develop future social work workforce policy. Social workers make a highly skilled, unique and valuable contribution to supporting individuals and families across Scotland. We acknowledge the significant pressures social workers face around increasing workloads, staff shortages and the more complex needs of those they support – all exacerbated by COVID.

We know that social workers have faced particular stress and emotional impact from working at home during the COVID pandemic. Even though supporting the impact of that is primarily for employers, the Scottish Government has also taken action to ensure that social workers have the right support.

Enhanced wellbeing support services, backed by £5m, are in place, including the National Wellbeing Hub. The Hub includes resources specifically for social workers and to support home working. In acknowledgement of the current challenges, the Scottish Government has invested £200k in a Social Work Professional Support Service to provide a peer support service from 2021-2023. The service covers a range of issues including wellbeing and resilience.

Our ambition is to raise the status of, and ensure investment in, the social work profession. This is to be delivered through our commitment to establishing the National Care Service and National Social Work Agency.

The Scottish Government will continue to work with COSLA and stakeholders to look at how social workers can be supported while they undertake their vital work across our communities.

The Scottish Government welcomes the Setting the Bar for Social Work report and will consider its findings for future policy decisions, including any potential developments of a public information campaign. Social workers make a highly skilled, unique and valuable contribution to supporting individuals and families across Scotland. We acknowledge the significant pressures social workers face around increasing workloads, staff shortages and the more complex needs of those they support – all of which have been exacerbated by COVID.

The Scottish Social Services Awards have been held annually since 2017 (except in 2020 due to COVID-19) and provide an opportunity to recognise the social work and social care workforce, raise the profile of the sector, demonstrate that it is valued and highlight the commitment and innovative approaches of those who work within it.

Further, the recently published National Care Service (Scotland) Bill will establish a new National Social Work Agency, which will support and invest in the social work profession by providing national leadership, and overseeing and supporting social work in a range of areas, including: workforce planning, improvement and social work terms and conditions.

The Scottish Government will continue to work with COSLA and stakeholders to look at how social workers can be supported while they undertake their vital work across our communities.

The Scottish Government welcomes the Setting the Bar for Social Work in Scotland report and will consider and discuss the findings with its partners to inform and develop future social work workforce policy. Social workers make a highly skilled, unique and valuable contribution to supporting individuals and families across Scotland. We acknowledge the significant pressures social workers face around increasing workloads, staff shortages and the more complex needs of those they support – all of which have been exacerbated by COVID.

There are a range of social work degrees available from full-time undergraduate to in-work postgraduate courses. Social work courses are offered at nine universities across Scotland. More information can be found here: Studying social work at university - Scottish Social Services Council (sssc.uk.com)

The number of individuals applying for these courses continues to exceed the number of places available, with an overall increase of almost 100 individuals in the last three years. This is shown by 629 applications in 2018-19 versus 720 applications in 2021-22.

As part of our ambition to increase access to the social work profession the Scottish Government is working with Skills Development Scotland and the Scottish Social Services Council to explore the creation of a Graduate Apprenticeship in Social Work, and is providing £264,000 funding to Robert Gordon University and Open University to increase their intake of students over the next 12 months.

Further, we are clear that a strong and well supported social work profession is key to delivering the aims set out in the Independent Review of Adult Social Care (IRASC) and the Promise and our commitment to set up a National Care Service (NCS) within the current Parliamentary session.

The recently published National Care Service (Scotland) Bill will establish a new National Social Work Agency, which will invest in the social work profession by providing national leadership, and overseeing and supporting social work in a range of areas, including: workforce planning, improvement and education.

The Scottish Government will continue to work with COSLA and stakeholders to look at how social workers can be supported while they undertake their vital work across our communities.

I met with South Ayrshire Council prior to the Local Elections to discuss their ongoing obligations in relation to the Station Hotel at Ayr Station. The Ayr Station Strategic Governance Group met on the 1st June where positive discussions around the progress of the project took place and it is expected that the Options Review report will be published by the Group in the coming weeks.