Care sector can lead Wales out of recession says boss of Pendine Park

A LEADING care sector organisation has launched a major recruitment drive in Wrexham. According to Care Forum Wales, independent operators are now providing 80% of the social care in Wales – mainly funded by the public purse.

And honorary chief executive Mario Kreft, the proprietor of the Wrexham based Pendine Park care organisation, says the growing economic clout of the care sector will help lead Wales out of recession.

After launching the campaign, Mr Kreft urged more independent sector care providers in Wales to sign up.

He said they would benefit from the expertise and influence wielded by Care Forum Wales.

He said: “We already have fantastic penetration in Wales with 500 members on our books – ranging from small operations, people in the voluntary and private sectors, to the household names of large nursing homes.

“We believe that even more independent providers want to be engaged in the process of moving standards and securing a fair deal.

“It is in everybody’s interests that we all work together for the greater good – by engaging the majority of providers in the process.

“Care Forum Wales represents all aspects of the care sector – whether it’s learning disabilities, domiciliary care, older people, people with dementia, you name it.

“We provide specialist support from people who really understand the different disciplines and understand how to drive standards forward.”

According to Mr Kreft, the way forward had been pointed by a historic agreement which was the first of its kind in the UK.

The Memorandum of Understanding was signed in Cardiff in the presence of Gwenda Thomas AM, Deputy Minister for Health and Social Services in the Welsh Assembly Government.

It was brokered by Care Forum Wales, the Welsh Local Government Association and the Association of Directors of Social Services Cymru.

Also signed up to it are the Registered Nursing Homes Association and the UK Home Care Association.

Mr Kreft said: “In Wales, 80%of social care is already provided by the independent sector – it is a public service funded with public money.

“The important thing about the Memorandum of Understanding is that it brings people together to improve social care standards, reshape the services of tomorrow and make sure that we have enough services of the right quality, to meet the needs of the people of Wales.

“We’ve been saying for years that the care sector is important economically and it’s taken the credit crunch for people to understand it.”