![Wales-IHSC-header](https://www.rcn.org.uk/wales/-/media/Royal-College-Of-Nursing/Images/IHSC/Wales-IHSC-header.png?h=380&w=1980&la=en&hash=EDE1CA4EF37B521AFAEE4650A8B386E8)
Independent health and social care in Scotland
Many of our members in Scotland are employed in independent health and social care (IHSC).
This includes members working in settings outside the NHS such as:
- Care homes
- Nursing agencies
- Independent hospitals
- General practices
As the voice of nursing, we’re committed to connecting, engaging and representing nursing staff, no matter what sector or setting you’re employed in. This page signposts to useful information and resources about IHSC in Scotland. For more general information about IHSC across the UK, please see our ‘Nursing across independent health and social care’ page.
If you can’t find what you’re looking for, please contact Carol Dale, our Lead Nurse for Independent Health and Social Care in Scotland, at Carol.Dale@rcn.org.uk.
Celebrating our IHSC members in Wales
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Celebrate Care Home Open Week
![NNOTY24](https://www.rcn.org.uk/wales/-/media/Royal-College-Of-Nursing/Images/IHSC/NNOTY24.png?h=300&w=683&la=en&hash=B06751621B90B29EAF91D10A396964C4)
Nurse of the year award 2024
Understanding the IHSC workforce in Scotland
Care homes make up the largest group of IHSC employers, with over half (56%) of nurses registered with the SSSC employed directly in care homes for adults. In addition to registered nurses, an estimated 33,480 care workers are working in adult care homes in Scotland.
Nursing agencies make up the next largest group of employers, employing 4 in 10 (39%) of nurses registered with the SSSC. These agencies supply significant numbers of staff to both the NHS and other IHSC settings.
Other employers include independent hospitals and hospices, general practices, care at home support services and prisons.
General nursing resources
Most of the resources on our website are relevant to all members – no matter what sector or setting you’re employed in. This includes many of our advice guides and subject guides, as well as the clinical information on RCN Learn.
Hear from our members in Wales
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28 Mar 2023
What Nursing means to me
Nursing has been my life. From my experience as very young child undergoing multiple orthopaedic operations, I knew I wanted to be a nurse.
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27 Mar 2023
Nurses working in general practice
In RCN Northern Ireland we have a very successful General Practice Nurse (GPN) network for nurses and nursing associates working in primary care.
Page last updated - 27/06/2024