About Care Forum Wales

• Care Forum Wales is a not-for-profit organisation representing all independent sector providers of health and social care services for adults and children throughout Wales

• We influence health and social care policy and practice in Wales as the principal voice for the independent care sector at the National Assembly for Wales

• We encourage access to education and training for all care providers

• We promote high standards and high quality of care and life experience for all service users and their carers

• We promote improved public information about all services

• We have regional groups based covering unitary authority areas

• Our membership includes private and voluntary providers of care homes, day and domiciliary care, education and training for health and social care services in Wales

• We foster co-operation and information exchanges between all agencies involved in commissioning, purchasing, providing and regulating

• We work in co-operation with other organisations representing providers interests in Wales, the UK and Europe

Council Meetings are held two monthly at various locations in North, Mid, South and West Wales in rotation. This enables Council Members and local members who may wish to attend and observe Council debates, to have equal access to the work of the Forum.

Membership is open to individuals as Direct Members – although Care Forum Wales encourages all providers to join local Associations. Local trade Associations can maximise their influence and co-ordinate their activities nationally by joining Care Forum Wales.

Care Forum Wales has no employed staff. Administration services are provided by the Professional Development and Qualifications Unit, Department of Life Long Learning, University of Wales Bangor Centre for Learning Development, University of Wales, Bangor, at St Asaph. The Director of the PDQ Unit is an active member of the CFW Council and maintains links and information flows on education, training and related funding matters.

A self-employed Policy Adviser assists with consultation exercises, surveys, managing information, preparing documents as required by the CFW Council and representing Care Forum Wales at selected meetings. Close links and cooperative working are maintained with the North Wales Association.

The CFW Council Members are elected at the Annual General Meeting. The Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer are appointed from within the Council membership. All officers are accountable directly to the Council and report at each meeting on the activities they undertake on behalf of the Forum. Officers' work for Care Forum Wales is done on a voluntary basis.

CFW Council members are motivated by their interest to ensure that independent sector providers are well represented. They aim to give a positive account of the enormous contribution made by the sector to the provision of health and social care services.

CFW representatives have worked closely with the National Assembly for Wales on the many Task Groups and sub-groups set up to consult on the implementation arrangements for the Care Standards Act 2000. Many amendments have been made to the final Regulations and National Minimum Standards as a result of CFW representations.

Each year, Care Forum Wales organises a conference and/or seminars on topical issues. Non-members are welcome to attend to participate in debates on current affairs and to meet other providers and share ideas and information.
With the devolution of political powers to Wales, it is most important that the Welsh perspective is heard and understood by the Assembly before decisions are taken about matters affecting the care industry. The more members CFW has the stronger its representation will be.

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