Help us shape our next strategic plan

We want your views and ideas about our future areas of focus to support us in developing our five-year strategic plan for 2027 to 2032. This engagement shares our current early thinking on developing our next plan before we formally consult on the detail of our next long-term plan.

Our strategic plan sets out how we’ll work towards our long-term vision and the outcomes we want to achieve for people, the workforce and the sector. It focuses on the big priorities for the next five years. Our current long-term plan runs until March 2027. Over the coming months, we want to gather your views to help shape our future focus. This is an opportunity to reflect on our early thinking and influence the direction of our next strategic plan’s. long-term vision and the outcomes we want to achieve for people, the workforce and the sector. It focuses on the big priorities for the next five years

In 2050 everyone is supported to do what matters to them, their family and community.

By 2050, we want a thriving, inclusive and future-ready care and support system that consistently delivers excellence in well-being, leadership and care environments for citizens in Wales. At the heart of this is a diverse, skilled and valued workforce that’s empowered by fair reward, a strong professional identity and flexible career pathways.

Through bold leadership and positive cultures, supported by strong governance, resources and digital foundations, the sector will be resilient, compassionate and responsive. Services will keep people safe, support independence, and improve the lives of current and future generations. Reflecting the combined principles of the Wellbeing of Future Generations (Wales) Act and the Social Services and Wellbeing (Wales) Act, including longterm thinking, prevention, integration, collaboration, and ensuring people who use care and support, and their families, have voice and control in shaping care.

To turn this long‑term vision into meaningful action, we need a clear picture of the present. Insights from the workforce and real‑time national data help us understand today’s challenges and opportunities, ensuring our ambitions for 2027 to 2032 are shaped by real experiences and reliable evidence. We’ll work with stakeholders to decide a range of measures and will include these in the final version of our strategic plan.

This engagement sets out our draft priorities to make a difference to people’s lives, to support the social care and early years sector on what matters to individuals, families and their carers.

The following sections set out our three draft long‑term ambitions, the priority areas we are proposing to focus on, and how we intend to work with you over the next five years to progress our vision:

• supporting excellence across social care services
• building valued and skilled social care and early years workforces
• Shaping the best possible future for social care

These ambitions are working drafts shared as part of this engagement to invite feedback and challenge, and they will be refined further before the Strategic plan is finalised.

Why we think this should be a priority

Most people experience good or excellent care and support, but consistency across Wales remains a challenge. Services must meet the needs of current and future individuals, their families and carers.

What do we want to achieve?

By 2050, we want all social care services in Wales to offer excellent support for people and staff. This means services that are fair, inclusive and caring, and that support both those who use care and support and those who provide them.

We want organisations to keep learning, use new ideas responsibly and work well together. By nurturing positive cultures, valuing diversity and the Welsh language, and using evidence well, we can improve experiences for people and communities.

Who will be involved?

We will work with leaders, providers, people who use care and support, their carers, their families and our partners across the system to improve well‑being, care and support, leadership and service environments. Policy makers, educators, regulators and community organisations will also play an important role.

By the end of 2032, to work towards supporting excellence in social care services we will:

• support leaders to nurture positive cultures and promote inclusive and compassionate care.
• champion equality, cultural competence and the importance of the Welsh language so services reflect the diversity of our communities.
• provide and use evidence to help services learn, adapt and improve.
• support social care employers to plan and develop their workforces

Why we think this should be a priority

Excellent care needs an excellent workforce. We need sufficient, professional and diverse social care and early years workforces that are skilled, valued and able to meet community needs.

What do we want to achieve?

By 2050, Wales will have workforces that are diverse, respected and recognised as vital to our communities and economy. People working in social care and early years will feel valued, fairly rewarded and proud of their professional identity. Our regulatory role will continue to uphold high standards and public confidence, supporting a strong and trusted profession.

Who will be involved?

We will work with the workforce, employers, managers and leaders who shape culture and practice. We will also work with education and training providers, policy makers, and regulators to ensure career pathways and standards reflect the needs of the sector. People who use care and support, and their families and carers, will help shape our understanding of what a valued workforce looks like.

By the end of 2032, to work towards building valued and skilled social care and early years workforces we will:

• uphold professional standards and public confidence through our regulatory role.
• champion workforce recognition and fair reward, equality, cultural competence and the importance of the Welsh language.
• support careers and learning by investing in leadership development, strengthening pathways and improving access to high-quality training.
• work with employers, education providers and partners to share best practice and create opportunities for progression.

Why we think this should be a priority

People in Wales need timely, integrated and quality support. As needs grow and people live longer, communities must have confidence in the resourcing, accessibility and quality of care and support.

What do we want to achieve?

By 2050, we want care and support in Wales to be strong, sustainable and ready for the future. This means leaders working together across services and sectors to plan, improve and respond to changing needs.

We will use evidence, research and new ideas to help shape long‑term approaches that give people more control and improve lives for years to come.

Who will be involved?

We will work with partners across health, social care, local authorities and communities, as well as education and research organisations. People who use care and support, and their families, will be central to shaping future services.

By the end of 2032, to work towards shaping the future of social care we will:

• work with partners on an ambitious future of care
• provide challenge and evidence to inspire transformation
• drive effective and long-term workforce and improvement strategies
• embed long-term thinking, involvement and shared responsibility, to help shape a system that is resilient, person-centred and prepared for future generations.

If you’d like to have your say on our current thinking and areas of focus, you can do so by:

• completing the online survey
• downloading this document, completing the survey on pages 13-15, and emailing it to: info@socialcare.wales
• printing this document, completing the survey on pages 13-15, and posting it to: Social Care Wales, South Gate House, Wood Street, Cardiff CF10 1EW.

The closing date for the engagement is 27 March 2026.

Once the engagement period has closed, we’ll consider all the feedback and move onto the next stage of development of the new strategic plan.

• There are no right or wrong answers, just your views
• You don’t need to answer every question if you don’t want to
• Your personal details won’t be collected unless you choose to give them
• Your feedback will help shape a more inclusive future.

The closing date for this engagement period is 27 March 2026.