New five-year social care plan aims to improve outcomes for people in Wales
A new five-year plan to make a positive difference to social care and childcare in Wales is announced by Social Care Wales’s board.
The Social Care Wales board’s five-year strategic plan is being launched yesterday at the Life Sciences Hub in Cardiff with the support of the Minister for Social Services and Public Health, Rebecca Evans.
Social Care Wales was established in April 2017, bringing together social care workforce regulation, workforce development and service improvement in one organisation.
The strategic plan sets out Social Care Wales’s vision for the next five years, what it aims to achieve, what its focus will be and how it will work with the social care and early years sectors, the public and the Welsh Government to realise its ambition.
Over the next five years, Social Care Wales aims to lead and support improvement in social care, develop the social care and early years workforce, and provide public confidence, leading to:
- Improved outcomes for children and adults who rely on care and support, their families and carers
- A skilled and high-quality social care and early years workforce that can fully meet current and future needs
- Confidence in those working in social care and childcare, and in the effectiveness of Social Care Wales.
Arwel Ellis Owen OBE (pictured), Chair of Social Care Wales, said: “The focus over the next five years will be on improving people’s well-being and we want every person who needs support to live the life that matters to them.
“Our purpose, vision and aims reflect our legal powers and responsibilities, as well as the views of the sector and our partners. We will make sure our work supports the priorities of the sector, the public and the Welsh Government. We can only achieve our aims by working with people and other public sector bodies and care providers across Wales.”
Sue Evans, Chief Executive of Social Care Wales, said: “We want to build confidence in the social care and early years workforce, and lead and support improvement in social care.
“There are many examples of excellent social care and early years practice in Wales, provided by committed and experienced professionals. We want to improve the quality and status of social care and early years work through regulation and training to make sure there are better jobs, closer to home, for people across Wales. By developing and building on the skills of the care workforce, we will help children, adults and older people who rely on care and support to improve their health and well-being.”
Rebecca Evans, Minister for Social Services and Public Health, said: “The creation of Social Care Wales presents a unique opportunity to drive and where appropriate challenge the sector to deliver improvement. Since April 2017, it has been the body that will lead, drive and influence social care in Wales for many years to come.
“I welcome the publication of the strategic plan, which sets out the vision and priorities for Social Care Wales over the next five years. I believe that the workforce is at the very heart of our sector, and Social Care Wales has a key role to play in incentivising high quality care and supporting the professionalisation and sustainability of the social care workforce.”
To download the Strategic Plan, visit: https://socialcare.wales/resources/making-a-positive-difference-to-social-care-in-wales-our-strategic-plan-2017-2022
