Today we’re bidding farewell to our Chief Executive Sue Evans, who’s retiring after eight years at the helm of Social Care Wales and a 32-year career in the public sector.
Mick Giannasi, our Chair, said: “Under Sue’s leadership, Social Care Wales has evolved into a trusted and valued public body, which delivers on its promises and provides a rewarding and supportive environment for our people to work in.
“At the heart of her success lies her boundless energy and passion for social care, her relentless determination to improve the lives of people in Wales who need care and support and a caring, people-focused leadership style, which motivates and inspires others at every level to give their best.
“There is still much to do to address the challenges which face the social care sector. But Sue can retire content in the knowledge that she has created solid foundations for her successor to build on and left a legacy, which will endure for many years to come.”
Sue became Chief Executive of our predecessor organisation, the Care Council for Wales, in 2016, overseeing its transformation to Social Care Wales the following year.
Under Sue’s leadership, the Register of Social Care Workers has grown from 11,000 to more than 60,000 registered people, with the addition of adult care home and domiciliary care workers.
This means more than 80 per cent of the social care workforce is now regulated and supported to provide good quality care and support across Wales.
Sue’s also overseen the development of new vocational qualifications for social care, early years and childcare workers, and a jobs portal to provide a one-stop shop for employers and job seekers in Wales.
Additionally, Sue and her team worked with Health Education and Improvement Wales to develop the first joint health and social care workforce strategy for Wales.
And in more recent years, Sue’s team has set up a range of services to support the sector with research, data and innovation.
To mark her exceptional career in the public sector, Sue was awarded an OBE in the recent King’s Birthday Honours List for her services to social care.
Thank you very much Sue! We wish you good luck and all the very best for this exciting new chapter in your life.
Sarah McCarty, our current Director of Improvement and Development, will step into her new role as Chief Executive from Monday, 29 July.