Social Care News

CFW chair blasts 'institutional prejudice' against private social care providers at Five Nations meeting

CFW chair Mario Kreft has used his speech at the March Five Nations meeting to hit out against what he called “institutional prejudice” towards proviate companies providing services for vulnerable people.

Above, left to right: CFW chair Mario Kreft, Des Kelly of the National Care Forum, Ranal Mair of Scottish Care, and Welsh Government Health Minister Mark Drakeford

The Five Nations group, which represents social care providers from the four home countries and Eire, met in Cardiff on March 10-11. Among those speaking at the conference were Health Minister Mark Drakeford, Older People's Commissioner for Wales Sarah Rochira and David Francis of CSSIW.

It was the final meeting for Des Kelly of the National Care Forum and Ranald Mair of Scottish Care, both founder members of the organisation.

In his speech Mario said: "It is just intolerable that people working in social care and providing such important services are not better valued.

"We really should learn from the no-blame culture of the aviation industry where people truly work in partnership to make sure planes don't fall out of the sky. We need a new spirit of partnership so the independent sector can work with the NHS, local authorities and other partners to get things fixed,” he said.

"The Social Services and Well-Being Act which comes into force on April 6 is a positive development in Wales and provides a glimmer of hope that the corrosive prejudice against the independent sector that pervades social care can be overcome so that we can build relationships and support best practice within the sector."