A highly recognised and valued workforce

Our social care and early years workforce deserve fair reward that reflects the crucial part they play in the well-being of people and communities.

As members of the Fair Work Forum, we will continue to influence and commit to embedding Fair Work and improving terms and conditions for those working in the social care sector.

We held the Accolades awards, which recognise, celebrate and share excellent social care and childcare, play and early years in Wales, in person on 21 April 2022 for the first time since 2018.

In 2022:

• we received 76 entries and nominations, across 7 categories
• 135 guests attended the ceremony at the Royal College of Music and Drama in Cardiff, which was also livestreamed over the internet.
• guests gave the ceremony an average rating of 92 per cent.

By the end of March 2023, 900 people had responded to our first workforce survey. The survey of registered social care workers asked questions about pay and conditions, health and well-being, and what people like about working in care.

The results will be analysed and we’ll work with partners to see how we and our partners can best provide support in response to the survey responses.

The workforce is valued by the Welsh public, with more than two thirds thinking they do a good job and almost three quarters having confidence in them.

These results were part of an Omnibus survey run in 2022 to 2023 with 1,000 members of the public in Wales.

Almost 80 per cent of the Welsh public said they believe care workers should have similar levels of pay and benefits to those working in the NHS.

The new version of the care worker card issued during the year will have a positive impact on social care and early years workers as they can benefit from a cashback card, as well as a range of retail offers. This will be achieved through a dedicated discounts provider, Discounts for Carers.

At the end of March 2023:

• 36,247 social care workers were card holders
• 1,756 early years and childcare workers had downloaded the care worker card.