Investing in the social care workforce

Welsh Labour’s Deputy Minister for Social Services, Gwenda Thomas has announced a grant of over £8 million to train social care workers in Wales.  

The £8.16 million grant is part of a package worth £11.66 million for 2013-14. The Welsh Government provides 70% of the total value of the social care workforce development programme with local authorities responsible for the remainder.  

The programme aims to increase the take-up of training across the whole social care sector – including local authority services and commissioned social care services – and improve the quality and management of services. The funding is in addition to employers’ own training resources.

The Care Council for Wales recently announced it will spend £1.8m over the next six years on raising the standard of social work practice in Wales. The money will be invested in new training to help social workers achieve greater professionalism and deliver the Welsh Government’s vision for citizen-centred services.

Their training will be aimed at experienced social workers, senior practitioners and consultant social workers.