A new year gives us time to pause and reflect on the year just past and to set out our goals for the year ahead, and it often brings a renewed focus on health and well-being.
At Social Care Wales, one of our priorities this January is the well-being of the social care and early years workforce.
Later this month, we’ll be running Well-being Week, our annual series of events that gives social care and early years workers the chance to come together to learn, connect and share.
Throughout the week, we’ll be joined by special guests who’ll share information about the things workers can do to support their well-being and the people around them.
Last year, more than 300 people joined us across the week’s events and we’re hoping this year will be just as successful.
We know from the results of our annual ‘Have your say’ survey that the well-being of the social care workforce in Wales has improved in recent years, but anxiety levels remain high.
In 2024, the survey found social care workers’ well-being was below the UK average. But in 2025, their satisfaction with life, happiness and feelings of life being worthwhile all increased and they’re now higher than the UK average.
The workforce told us their morale was good and they feel valued by the people they support, their colleagues and their managers.
But they also told us their anxiety levels were higher than in 2024, and above the UK average.
The survey asks social care workers their opinion about things such as their health and well-being, pay, terms and conditions, and what they think about working in the sector.
It gives us valuable insight into what it’s like to work in social care, and in 2025, more than 5,700 people took part.
We’ll be launching the 2026 ‘Have your say’ survey during Well-being Week, where we’ll be asking workers to once again share their views.
We use the survey’s findings to guide the support and services we offer, and to influence the work of partner organisations to make sure workers’ voices are heard.
If you work in social care, keep an eye on our website over the next few weeks for information about how you can take part in this year’s survey.
If you want to consider a rewarding career – you can find out more of the roles in social care, early years and childcare on the WeCare Wales website.