Plans for the first body to represent staff in the social care sector were announced today (Friday, April 20) by Care Forum Wales.

Speaking at a conference at Wrexham’s Glyndwr University, Welsh Government Health and Social Services Minister, Lesley Griffiths said she welcomed the creation of the Academy of Health Practitioners – the first such body in the UK – following a successful pilot scheme.

She said: “This development will add to the reputation of social care work as an attractive and challenging occupation making a real difference to the every day lives of people in Wales.”

The Academy of Care
Practitioners will be officially launched at the Senedd in Cardiff on Monday, May 21, at a reception hosted
by the the Health and Social Services Minister and the Deputy Minister for Children and Social Services, Gwenda Thomas.

The news was
welcomed by social care workers – there is currently no professional body to raise the
profile and the status of people working in social care, unlike in social care and nursing.

Teresa Pritchard, who took part in the pilot project for the Academy of Care Practitioners, said: "The concept,
has been widely supported for some time and the pilot project we have
undertaken has shown overwhelming support of care practitioners themselves. 

"Professional bodies can be a real source of support and
greatly assist in promoting best practice and raising standards to the benefit of
service users," she added.

Mario Kreft,
Chair of Care Forum Wales, said: "One of the
biggest issues in our view is that vocationally qualified social care workers are a profession without their own
professional body. We believe it’s about time that was put right.

"It’s really
about providing a support mechanism, helping people with their personal and
professional development, and gaining added value benefits..

"This
innovation will create the first body of its type for social care workers in
the UK and it is fitting that it should be created in Wales where we have seen
a great deal of innovation in recent years."

The initiative was also welcomed by Professor Mike Scott, Vice Chancellor of Glyndwr University, which has
agreed to support the initiative for the first two years while it
establishes itself.

Professor Scott said: "Glyndŵr
University has recognised the need for an independent body helping to assure
the profession, the government and stakeholders to have confidence in the
important work of social care across the country.

"It
is delighted therefore to work with Care Forum Wales to host and thereby help
facilitate the creation and development of the new Academy of Care
Practitioners as a significant step forward for
the profession."

For more information about the Academy of Care Practitioners ring Sue Thomas on
01978 752500 or email her at sue@careforumwales.co.uk

www.academyofcarepractitioners.co.uk

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