Could You Make A Difference To Social Care In Wales?

The appointments process is now open for members of the new Social Care Wales Board. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Regulation and Inspection of Social Care (Wales) Act renames the Care Council for Wales as Social Care Wales and gives the organisation new powers. As well as workforce regulation and workforce development, Social Care Wales will be responsible for improvement across the social care sector – a major change for social care in Wales. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Social Care Wales will come into force in April next year. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Minister for Social Services and Public Health Rebecca Evans said: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Social Care Wales will work with people who use care and support services, and a broad range of organisations, to lead improvements in social care. We are recruiting a board of members who will be passionate about and committed to improving social care in Wales. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The board will aim to make sure that the people of Wales can call on a high-quality social care workforce that provides services to fully meet their needs. It will strengthen the protection of people who use social care services, support the workforce to develop, and improve the quality of care and support in Wales. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I want to see a board that is as diverse as the people of Wales, made up of individuals with a wide range of expertise, skills and experience of social care. We are actively seeking carers, service users, social care workers and members of the public who can help to improve social care in Wales. If that is you, or someone you know, please take a look at the website.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Arwel Ellis Owen, Care Council for Wales Chair who will Chair Social Care Wales for its first two years, reiterated the Minister’s call for a broad range of potential members to come forward. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

He said: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“These are exiting times to be involved in public policy in Wales. Social Care Wales will build on the success of the Care Council and its aims of providing public assurance and a professional and sustainable social care and early years workforce, supported by high-quality learning. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“To achieve this, we need a strong, independent Board. The Board will drive the various improvement agendas, such as care and support at home, looked-after children and dementia. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I do hope people are inspired to be part of the Social Care Wales Board. There will be no more than 14 Members from all corners of Wales, and from all walks of life and experiences. It is a unique opportunity to become a new member of a body that will have responsibility for leading the care sector.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​