Thirty-nine employers hired 120 workers through the first phase of Scotland’s Adult Social Care Displaced Workers Scheme, according to Scottish Government figures published on 3 November 2026. The figures cover December 2025 to March 2026. The scheme helped Scottish employers with costs associated with recruiting displaced international care workers already in the UK.
How the figures were calculated
The workbook estimates 19,500 additional care hours per month. It applies a 37.5-hour working week to each hire and converts that to a monthly average. Treat the result as an estimate of capacity. The release does not establish how many hours were actually delivered on shifts.
The publication gives two different spending totals. The workbook’s key points list £234,550, while its main table gives £253,450. Both are presented for the first phase. The figures for hires, employers and estimated hours agree across the two sections, but the workbook leaves the spending total unclear.
The scheme reopened later in 2026. The official scheme page says it closed to applicants on 21 August. The November workbook reports results for the earlier round.
What employers can measure after a recruitment round
A provider evaluating its own recruitment can track three stages separately. Count appointments, track how many recruits start, then check which hours are available for care after induction. Compare those hours with the shift patterns and locations where vacancies were recorded. A service that has recruited successfully can still have gaps on the particular shifts it was trying to cover.
Review the figures alongside what new colleagues say about their first weeks at work. Induction time, practical support with travel and a named point of contact are examples of issues a manager can check locally. The national release measures uptake of a recruitment scheme. Local records can show how appointments translate into capacity and support for staff.
Featured image is an AI-generated illustration.
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