Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 2:42 pm on 7 March 2023.
Thank you. I think the Welsh Government have certainly always put forward the very strong case, I think, that it can be a very rewarding career—working in the care home and social care sector. I'm aware that Care Forum Wales—gosh, I think, it's about 12, 13, 14 years ago now—it was a programme that they started to make sure there was professional development for people working in care homes, and the Welsh Government certainly supported that. Recruitment is a real issue. I think we all recognise that. I passed a very large care home, not far from here, the other evening, and there was a big banner outside saying, 'We are recruiting.' It's not an issue just in Wales either, and we certainly saw—. We ask a great deal, don't we, of our staff in our are care homes and social care, and unfortunately we have seen many leave the profession and also issues with recruitment. You will be aware the Welsh Government brought forward the real living wage, which we implemented for social care workers, earlier this year, to deliver on our commitment to introduce it to all social care workers, and we made £43 million available this financial year.