Care Forum Wales

19/12/2025

The National Advisory Service (NAS) helps displaced overseas social care workers find new roles and supports providers facing recruitment challenges.

✅ Employers with a sponsorship licence (or interested in applying) can share vacancies with NAS: support@sanctuary.gov.wales

✅ NAS connects skilled workers with providers – participation is voluntary, and providers are under no obligation to appoint if they don’t feel the worker is suitable.

✅ Welsh Government works with UKVI to fast-track sponsorship certificates for employers recruiting displaced workers.

Since launching in Sept 2025, NAS has built a growing database of vacancies and workers, with positive feedback from providers.

👉 Learn more:

How we will store and process your details under the General Data Protection Regulation.

10/12/2025

On Human Rights Day, the Five Nations Care Forum has written to the UK Government urging full and active engagement in the drafting of the UN Convention on the Rights of Older Persons.

We are calling for strong UK leadership and for older people and social care providers to be at the heart of the process.

Read the letter here:

On Human Rights Day (10 December 2025), the Five Nations Care Forum – which comprises of care associations from Wales, Scotland, England, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland – wrote to the UK Government urging full and active participation in drafting... read more »

26/11/2025

Vaccinations remain one of the most effective ways to prevent hospital admissions due to flu.

If you’re eligible for a free flu vaccine, you can find the official Welsh Government guidance,and details on who qualifies, here: https://www.gov.wales/eligible-groups-2025-2026-flu-immunisation-programme-html?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Please take a look as social care staff and most of those you care for are covered this season. 🦠

24/11/2025

🎉 The Wales Care Awards 2026 nominations are now open! 🎉

We’re excited to announce that the Wales Care Awards 2026 will take place on Friday 16th October 2026 at the Sunday Holland House Hotel, Cardiff.

👉 Submit your nomination form here: https://careforumwales.us18.list-manage.com/track/click?u=884ecfae5a1a530b13f61112c&id=8afc4b9281&e=9661ada82f

⏳ Nominations close on 31st January 2026 — don’t miss your chance to celebrate excellence in care!

For more details, visit: 🌐 www.walescareawards.co.uk

💜 We are so honoured to recognise the incredible individuals making a difference every day in social care across Wales once again!

20/11/2025

🚨 Calling all homecare providers in Wales! 🚨

We have been working with other care organisations to re-launch the Expert Reference Group on Domiciliary Care as part of the National Provider Forum.

This group is a fantastic opportunity for providers across the country to raise current issues and explore meaningful change in our sector.

🗣️ We’ve shaped the meetings to be useful and engaging, with:
• Guest speakers from key social care policy and regulatory bodies in Wales
• Open invitations to members of Care Forum Wales and the Homecare Association

📅 Our next meeting is happening on Tuesday 25 November, 10:00–11:30 on Microsoft Teams.

We’ll be discussing the Employment Rights Bill with two brilliant speakers:
• Josh Vuglar, Head of Modern Slavery and Workers’ Rights, Welsh Government
• Laurie Hayward, Head of Social Care Workforce, Welsh Government

They’ll be covering updates on sick pay, zero-hours contracts, and the Fair Pay Agreement for Wales.

💬 If you are a Care Forum Wales member and wish to attend this session e-mail thea@careforumwales.co.uk

17/11/2025

As part of the Wales Care Awards we choose to support a charity through our raffle on the night.

This year we were delighted to choose the Wales Air Ambulance Charity. Like our brilliant care workers, they also provide 24/7 support to those requiring it throughout Wales. Thank you to all who sponsored, attended and donated on the evening to raise £940 for this brilliant charity!

We want to say a big thank you to Care Forum Wales for choosing our charity to benefit from their recent Wales Care Awards ceremony.

A fantastic £940 was raised, which will have a lifesaving impact for those who need our critical care services.

Diolch yn fawr ❤️

30/10/2025

Care Inspectorate Wales & Social Care Wales launched a new resource in July to help build positive cultures in social care across Wales.

✅ Based on lessons from Operation Jasmine & IICSA
✅ Co-developed with sector stakeholders (including Care Forum Wales)
✅ Designed for teams, departments & commissioners
✅ Supports reflection and not performance management

This Welsh-specific resource makes existing knowledge more accessible, especially for smaller organisations.

📢 Here is the link for those in the sector to explore and the guide:

This guide explains the principles of positive cultures and why they matter. It also has links to resources, programmes and tools to help you use the principles.

29/10/2025

Take the opportunity to visit as a team, gain new insights, develop meaningful conversations and connections, and discover fresh ideas and solutions to help you grow together.

They've got two events left this year, with Care Roadshow Wales taking place on the 11th November. We can't wait to see you there: https://bit.ly/48pmSCY

23/10/2025

Last week’s Wales Care Awards were a celebration of our incredible care workforce for people whose compassion, dedication, and resilience make a difference in the lives of those we love every single day.

We believe these remarkable individuals deserve more than applause, they deserve fair pay. That’s why we welcome the Welsh Government’s commitment to the Real Living Wage, which will rise from £12.60 to £13.45 and must be implemented by May 1st, 2026.

📌 What this means:

📋For providers: Make sure your local authority is aware of the increase and reflects it in fee rate toolkits for the next financial year. If you're not receiving the funding, challenge it—this funding is meant to be passed on. The Welsh Government should pass on appropriate funding for the RLW through the 26-27 Local Government Settlements.

📋For employees: If your employer receives the funding from the local authority, you should see your hourly wage rise to £13.45 from the next financial year.

More info 👉 https://www.livingwage.org.uk/what-real-living-wage

While this increase is welcome, we continue to advocate for wages that truly reflect the value of our care workforce and the Real Living Wage still falls short. If you're a Care Forum Wales member facing local authority challenges, please contact us.

The real Living Wage is the only UK wage rate that meets the cost of living. UK Living Wage £12.60 London Living Wage £13.85 The real Living Wage remains the only UK Wage rate calculated on the real cost of living. It is voluntarily paid by over 16,000 UK businesses who have chosen to tran...

18/10/2025

Care Forum Wales has the honour of representing care providers across the country and working so closely with our amazing members. This is why hosting the Wales Care Awards will always be our greatest privilege. 💜

Our members and their teams possess rare traits that allow them to care for so many of our loved ones with compassion, dignity, and a lot of love.

A huge thank you to everyone who joined us at last night’s Wales Care Awards 2025 — what an incredible evening celebrating the heart of social care in Wales. 👏

Congratulations to every finalist! Your stories and dedication are what make the night truly special.

✨ Watch this space! Nominations for the Wales Care Awards 2026 will open soon and we can’t wait to celebrate more of you next year.

17/10/2025

And to wrap up the evening - Carol Dight, thank you so much for your contributions to this sector. 💜🎉✨

17/10/2025

You are a superstar, Keri✨🎉💜