Social Care News

Three members have been re-appointed to the Care Council for Wales (CCW), the Deputy Minister for Social Services, Gwenda Thomas has announced.

The Care Council for Wales is responsible for regulating the social care workforce, regulating training and discharging workforce development functions.

The re-appointed members are Stephen Elliott, Amelia Lyons and Kate Hawkins

Mrs Thomas said:

“I am very pleased to announce these re-appointments to the Care Council of Wales as each Member brings specific expertise and years of experience that reflect the wide range of interests in the field of social care.”

The Care Council for Wales is an Assembly Government Sponsored Body with the remit for regulation of social workers and social care workers.  It has the responsibility to set and promote high standards of conduct and practice among social workers and social care workers and high standards in their training. 

The Council strives to promote high standards and quality care services to ensure that children and adults who are receiving services have confidence in the safeguards in place so that they can rely on a workforce that is properly trained, appropriately qualified and effectively regulated.

Biographies

Stephen Elliott (Professional Organisations)

Stephen Elliott is a practitioner within social care and social work and is a member of the Social Care Association and a committee member of BASW Cymru. He is on the UK Register of Expert Witnesses, and joins the Council to represent the views of professional organisations.  He is Co-Director of Prospects for Young People, which he co-founded in 1994, and has considerable experience in both field and residential social work settings at practitioner and management level.  He was a Children’s Guardian for over 15 years, and was involved in both public and private law proceedings. Stephen is a member of the Investors in People North East Wales Recognition Panel, and Chair of the North Wales Barnardos Adoption and Fostering Panels.

Amelia Lyons (Education and Training)

Amelia Lyons is Dean of the School of Health & Social Services at the University of Wales, Newport. Having formerly worked in management research and consultancy for the leisure and tourism industry, Amelia then trained and practiced as a counsellor and supervisor, before joining the University of Newport in 1990 as a lecturer. She later became Head of Department and then Dean of School. The work of the school includes social work, youth work, psychology, criminology, health, sport and counselling. Amelia’s interests include troubleshooting, team building and how the development of self awareness can enhance the individuals’ ability to learn. Amelia is also now a training Group Analyst and is currently investigating online methods of support for individuals and groups.

Kate Hawkins (Education and Training)

Kate Hawkins is a senior social care lecturer based in Pembrokeshire.  She has established a range of generic and specialised social care training courses for paid staff, volunteers, and unpaid carers who are part of the social care workforce in West Wales.  She has worked collaboratively with a range of organisations to promote high standards of care and a shared value base. Kate was an integral part of the pilot scheme for delivering the City & Guilds Certificate in Personal Care and Learning for Unpaid Carers, which won a Social Care Accolade in 2005. Most recently, Kate has worked with Agored Cymru to set up an Access to Higher Education pathway which gives an opportunity for adult learners to progress to a Social Work degree.