October 20, 2026 - 172 views
The Welsh Government has published a new programme aimed at making social care more consistent, reliable and sustainable, as services across Wales face growing demand, workforce shortages and financial pressures.
The National Care Service Programme sets out six areas for reform, including improving funding arrangements, supporting care workers, strengthening national leadership and making it easier for people to access joined-up support.
The plan forms part of the Welsh Government’s longer-term ambition to develop a National Care Service, with a focus on ensuring people receive the right care in the right place and at the right time, regardless of where they live.
However, the proposals come against a challenging backdrop for social care in Wales. Councils and care providers are dealing with rising costs, increasingly complex needs and difficulties recruiting and retaining staff, while demand for support continues to grow as the population ages.
There are concerns about the financial sustainability of services, workforce shortages and growing reliance on unpaid carers. Workforce surveys have also highlighted the difficulties of retaining staff, with low pay, working conditions and a lack of recognition among the issues cited.
These pressures can affect the availability of home care, support for families and the ability of older and disabled people to remain independent in their own communities. They also place additional demands on relatives who provide unpaid care.
The new programme identifies six foundations for change: clearer national leadership and accountability; fair funding and more reliable care; better career opportunities for care workers; improved data and digital services; earlier intervention and stronger safeguarding; and better-connected social care and support.
The Welsh Government says the work will be developed in partnership with people who receive care, unpaid carers, social care workers, local authorities, providers and other organisations.
Deputy Minister for Social Care Delyth Jewell said social care supported children and families through difficult times, helped disabled people live independently and enabled older people to remain in their own homes and communities.
She said the contribution of paid and unpaid carers affected millions of people, but that social care was too often overlooked.
Ms Jewell said the programme was intended to build a more joined-up and sustainable system, strengthening services and supporting the workforce as demand increased.
The challenge will be turning those ambitions into practical improvements for people who need care and those providing it. The programme sets out the direction of travel, but its success will depend on how the plans are delivered, the resources available and whether they make a tangible difference to access, quality and continuity of care.
The Welsh Government says the programme will guide its work during the current Senedd term, as part of its longer-term vision for a National Care Service for Wales.
