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Death in service cover for Scottish care workers

The Scottish Government has announced it will extend death in service cover for care workers during the coronavirus pandemic.

Scottish health secretary Jeane Freeman has confirmed that Holyrood plans to provide a one-off payment of £60,000 to a named survivor where any social care worker dies without death in service cover in their contracted pension arrangements.

The Scottish Government has stepped in to provide additional funding to ensure all social care workers receive enhanced sick pay where they have received a positive COVID-19 test.

Last month, the Department of Health and Social Care announced families of social care staff who die from coronavirus in England will receive a one-off payment of £60,000.

The scheme covers employees of publicly funded care homes, home care, directly employed carers including personal assistants and frontline child and family social workers.

The Welsh Government has also implemented similar measures.

‘Social Care staff provide a critical and valuable service, never more apparent than during this emergency period,’ said Ms Freeman.

‘While some employers offer employment contracts closer to the Scottish Government’s fair work principles, it is clear that others do not. In recognition of the current exceptional circumstances and in order to ensure that social care workers are given the urgent support they deserve, we will develop a Scottish Government funded scheme for care workers in respect of sick pay and death in service benefits.

‘These fair work issues and how they are realised in commissioning contracts will require to be addressed but, in the current circumstances, my focus now is on fairness for the care workers affected.

‘We will continue to work with local government, social care providers and trades unions on further details of the plans over the course of next week.’

Photo Credit – BarryPit (Pixabay)

Jamie Hailstone
Senior reporter - NewStart

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