Written question WQ85662

We are addressing the long-standing challenges in recruitment and retention. Our budget for 2022-23 provided a 9.4 per cent increase to local government, and spending on social services in Wales is significantly above the UK average. Our strong support for the sector has delivered the Real Living Wage for social care workers early in this Senedd term, and we continue to work in the Social Care Fair Work Forum to improve employment conditions that go beyond pay. This provides a positive starting point for improved terms and conditions for social care workers, and we are working closely with the Social Care Fair Work Forum on next steps.

We have been running a national TV and social care recruitment campaign to highlight the opportunities of a career in social care and increase capacity. We have increased funding to Social Care Wales to ensure an increase in targeted recruitment work and the roll out of online free introductory training in social care for anyone interested in finding out more.

We have provided additional funding of £10m in 2021-22 to support unpaid carers. £3m was distributed across local authorities earlier this year to support unpaid carers access respite opportunities.

We have also provided £10m of additional funding in April, through the supplementary budget to local authorities Amended Local Government Revenue and Capital Settlements. This is intended to enable local authorities to increase capacity within domiciliary care through funding driving lessons for staff who can’t drive and providing electric vehicles that could be used to deliver services in the community.

To mark our commitment to developing improved conditions and professional career pathways, we are funding an additional payment of £1,498 to those care workers in permanent employment who are receiving the Real Living Wage and their registered managers.

We have recently approved an extension to the COVID-19 statutory sick pay enhancement scheme for care workers who are required to self-isolate or stay off work to protect the people they care for.

As part of the Rebalancing Care and Support Programme, the Welsh Government is committed to developing a Strategic National Framework for commissioned care and support. As part of this we will set standards for commissioning practice, reduce complexity, and will focus on quality and outcomes, improving the conditions for the social care workforce.