News from our Members

New organisation for social care in Wales comes into being

A new organisation for social care in Wales has today (April 3, 2017) come into being.

It combines the functions of the Care Council for Wales and the Social Services Improvement Agency and will regulate, support and develop the workforce, and use data and research to improve practice and service delivery.

It's three agreed priorities for improvements to the sector will focus on care at home, supporting people with dementia and looked-after children. 

Its new chief executive, Sue Evans (pictured), said: "This is an exciting time for social care in Wales with the coming into being of Social Care Wales. We’re a new voice for the social care sector and our aim is to improve the quality of care and support in Wales, so that people can always rely on it."

Social Care Wales aims to raise the quality of care and support in Wales, so that people’s lives can be improved. Its main functions are to:

• set standards for the care and support workforce, making them accountable for their practice
• support the early years and social care workforce so they have the knowledge and skills to protect and support those who need help
  work with others to improve services for areas agreed as a national priority
• set priorities for research to get evidence of what works well
  share good practice
• provide information about care and support.

Priorities for Social Care Wales from April 2017

Social Care Wales has agreed three strategic improvement priorities with Welsh Government and the social care sector, which will need to be addressed immediately. They are:

• care and support at home
• supporting people with dementia
• children who are looked after by the local authority.