Wednesday April 29th 2026
Adult social care worker (credit: Age Cymru)
Written by Midlothian View Reporter, Liam Eunson
The City of Edinburgh Council have announced that adult social care workers for Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership will now be paid the Real Living Wage, costing the council £17.2 million.
All workers, no matter if they are staff, contractors or individuals receiving direct payments, will be paid £13.45 per hour after the wage uplift was agreed at a meeting of the Edinburgh Integration Joint Board last month. This was then passed at a meeting of Edinburgh Council’s Finance and Resources committee on 28 April.
The wages came into force on 1 April and will cost the council £17.2 million to implement for the 2026-27 financial.
The uplift is funded by a £11.3 million grant from the Scottish Government with the £5.9 million shortfall coming from budget savings implemented by the board.
Midlothian Council are also increasing social care wages, in line with the Scottish Government’s minimum hourly rate increase.
Christine Laverty, chief officer of Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership said:
“We welcome this uplift in wages for adult social care workers in the city.
“This is part of Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership’s commitment to reducing poverty in the Edinburgh and ensuring everyone is paid a fair wage.
“Paying the Real Living Wage is more important than ever, with the cost of living continuing to rise and some of the worst affected by relative poverty are those in work. By paying a fare wage, we can help workers find routes out of poverty.”
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