2026 Accolades

The Accolades are awards that recognise, celebrate and share notable work in social care, social work and childcare, play and early years in Wales.

The awards recognise the work of groups, teams and organisations, as well as workers from across the public, private, voluntary and co-operative sectors in Wales.

We’re now welcoming applications for the 2026 Accolades from groups, teams and organisations, as well as nominations for the awards for workers.

The closing date for entries and nominations is 5pm on 10 November 2025.

The 2026 Accolades have seven categories:

• four for teams, groups and organisations
• three for workers.

In each category, our judges will be looking for evidence of work that’s new and makes a positive difference to the lives of the children, families and adults they support.

Building bright futures for children and families

This category celebrates organisations, settings or projects working with children, young people and families to help them achieve what matters to them. We welcome entries from across social work, social care, childcare, play and early years that provide high standards of care and help children and young people shine.   

Entries could come from residential social care settings or community-based or statutory services. For example, those supporting young people who’ve recently left care, residential homes, fostering or adoption services. Or it could be an early years, play or childcare setting that gives the children it supports an excellent start in life.   

Effective use of digital and technology

This category celebrates organisations, settings or projects that make effective or innovative use of digital and technology to enhance the care and support they provide. This could include apps, virtual reality, connected devices, or any technology that enhances care and supports independence. 

Entries could come from statutory, private or voluntary services that support adults or children from across the social work, social care, childcare, play and early years sectors. 

Innovative ways of recruiting and retaining the workforce

This category celebrates organisations, settings or teams that use effective, creative and innovative approaches to recruiting and/or retaining the workforce to meet current and future demands and expectations.

Entries could come from statutory, private or voluntary services that support adults or children from across the social work, social care, childcare, play and early years sectors.

Supporting people to live the life that matters to them

The Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act expects us to focus on people’s well-being and put them at the centre of their care and support planning.

This category celebrates projects, teams and organisations that work in ways to:

• support people to do the things that matter most to them, in their own way so they’re able to live life the way they want to
• plan realistic, achievable care and support because we understand the resources available and challenges to the person we’re supporting
• understand what the person needs because we’re really listening to them
• make sure the person we’re supporting has voice, choice and control in decisions and plans for their own care and support, resulting in longer term positive change
• understand the structural inequalities that affect the people we support, so we can challenge those barriers and support people compassionately
• use materials and services more efficiently, because we only use what’s needed to meet the outcome
• support families to manage risks.

If you're a social care, social work or multidisciplinary team who's working at promoting this approach, realigning your systems and processes, or helping others build their skills and confidence to work in this way – we want to hear from you! 

In each category, our judges will be looking for exceptional workers from across the social care, social work and childcare, play and early years sectors who go above and beyond the usual day-to-day requirements of their role to help the people they support achieve what really matters to them.

Inspirational leadership award

Impactful and compassionate leadership is crucial for providing high-quality care and support. We're looking for individuals across social care and early years who:

• attend to the needs of their colleagues and those they serve
• understand the challenges and perspectives of others
• empathise with their team and the people they support
• help solve problems to achieve better outcomes.

Nominate those who inspire and lead with compassion!

Learner of the year award

Continuous learning is an essential part of anyone’s professional development.

We’re looking to recognise and celebrate exceptional individuals in the social work, social care, childcare, play and early years sectors who’ve gone above and beyond in their learning over the past year. They could be:

• students studying for a degree or qualification in social work, social care, childcare, play or early years
• apprentices
• individuals who are newly qualified or new to the sector
• experienced staff who’ve pushed themselves to improve their knowledge or learn new skills with their CPD
• people working in the sector who’ve carried out research in social care, social work or childcare, play and early years.

WeCare Wales award

We’re looking for people to nominate outstanding workers involved in social care, social work or childcare, play and early years, who’ve made a hugely positive difference to people’s lives.    

The workers can be from any role in the public, private or voluntary sectors, including volunteers. They can also be apprentices or people studying for qualifications while they work. 

The 2026 Accolades awards ceremony will be held in summer 2026. We’ll update this page with more information about it nearer the time.

If you have a question or can’t find what you’re looking for, get in touch with us.