Care Forum Wales (CFW) has published a new manifesto ahead of the next Senedd election in May 2026, urging all political parties to commit to long-term reform of Wales’ social care system and to give the sector ‘parity’ with the NHS in recognition, investment and status.
A central theme of the manifesto is the case for a ‘true partnership’ between government, commissioners and providers, with sustainable social care only achievable through collaborative planning and mutual respect. The organisation argues that independent providers continue to deliver quality care under increasingly difficult conditions, and that future policy must be designed with the operational realities of care homes and community services in mind.
Ending the ‘postcode lottery’ in fees
One of CFW’s headline asks is for an end to what it describes as a ‘postcode lottery’ in fee setting across Wales. In coverage of the manifesto launch, CFW calls for a national approach to fees to improve equity for residents and stability for providers, regardless of local authority boundaries.
For care home leaders, this speaks directly to persistent challenges around inconsistent commissioning rates, short-notice uplifts, and the difficulty of building sustainable workforce and quality plans when income varies widely across regions.
Funding the Real Living Wage so it reaches staff
The manifesto also calls for proper funding to underpin commitments on pay, specifically to ensure that any funding intended to support the Real Living Wage actually reaches frontline care staff. For providers, this is framed as both a fairness issue and a retention tool at a time when recruitment and turnover pressures remain acute.
Visa system reform and ethical recruitment
Workforce supply is another core pillar. CFW is urging urgent action to ‘fix the visa system’ to enable ethical international recruitment and reduce chronic vacancies. The message is that without a stable route to recruit and retain staff, wider ambitions around quality improvement and service expansion will continue to be undermined.
Parity with the NHS and a ‘common-sense’ rebalancing agenda
The manifesto reiterates calls for social care to be valued equally alongside the NHS within an integrated health and care system. It also argues for a “common sense” approach to rebalancing (moving care and support into the most appropriate settings) without policy changes that create unintended consequences for providers or destabilise local markets.
Accountability, transparency and value for money
CFW’s publication also stresses accountability and fairness across the system, positioning independent care providers as delivering value for money while calling for clearer, more transparent arrangements that put people first.
What this means for care home professionals
For care home operators and senior managers, the manifesto is effectively a sector roadmap for what CFW wants parties to commit to before May 2026, focused on three practical levers that directly affect day-to-day delivery:
- A more consistent national funding approach to reduce regional volatility and improve sustainability
- A credible workforce plan that addresses pay, supply and ethical recruitment routes
- Stronger system status for social care, including clearer parity with the NHS in planning and priorities
Care Forum Wales is urging political parties to engage with the manifesto in the run-up to the election.
The full manifesto can be read here.
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