In October 2025, after reports of reductions to SDS personal budgets (options 1 direct payments), we facilitated two separate surveys for disabled people and carers and social workers.
Survey analysis was completed by Three Sisters Consultancy (disabled people and carers) and Dr Gillian MacIntyre and Dr Ailsa E Stewart (social workers).
In addition, Social Work Scotland are proud to publish a bridging paper collating both perspectives to discuss the state and future of social work and social care in Scotland, and pleased to be able to bring the lived experience and workforce voices together.
This report is published alongside two complementary research studies: one capturing the lived experience of people who draw on social work and social care support, and another exploring the experiences of social workers operating within the current system. Its purpose is to connect these perspectives – to show how funding decisions, governance arrangements, and policy choices shape both what people experience and what practitioners are asked to do. By bringing lived experience, workforce reality, and financial analysis into the same frame, this paper aims to support informed, constructive discussion about how Scotland can build a more sustainable, rights-based, and trusted system of care and support. It is intended as a contribution to collective problem-solving, not an attribution of blame to individuals or organisations working within significant structural constraints.
Report 1: The State and Future of Social Work and Social Care in Scotland Part 1 (written by Laura Kerr, Head of Policy and Workforce, Social Work Scotland)
Report 2: Impacts of SDS budget reductions on social workers – Survey analysis (written by Dr Gillian MacIntyre and Dr Ailsa E Stewart)
Report 3: Impacts of SDS budget reductions on disabled people and unpaid carers – Survey analysis (written by Rhiann McLean Three Sisters Consultancy)
