Welsh Lib Dems urge Welsh Gov to make good their promise to remove private profit from children’s care

ON Thursday in the Senedd, the Welsh Liberal Democrats urged the Welsh Government to make good on their promise on removing private profit from looked after children’s care.

According to the Radical Reform report, fully transforming the care market may take up to 10 to 15 years. Providing that local authorities are receiving sufficient capital support to build the necessary residential care provisions and train fresh staff.

Previously the Welsh Government had committed to providing revenue funding of £68 million over the next three years, however no updates have been made since the Draft Budget announcement in December.

The party have urged the Welsh Labour Government to follow through on their commitment towards reforming the care system, removing profit-making and instead prioritising the needs of the most vulnerable.

Commenting, the Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats Jane Dodds MS said:

“We all share a personal commitment towards care experienced children and ensuring that their needs are being prioritised.

It is vital that we take steps towards creating a care system focused on our most vulnerable, one that prioritises care not profit.

To their credit the Welsh Government have in the past committed to removing private profit from looked after children’s care. But since the Draft Budget announcement in December, we’ve heard very little.

My message to the Welsh Labour Government is clear, do not let this promise fall, like so many others they have made, under the category of “unfulfilled”.

Whilst it is vital that we remove profit making, it is also important that we beforehand offer sufficient non-profit options to those working in the sector.

Without sufficient funding being provided to local authorities, we risk creating a black hole in the care system that could prove to be devastating to the most vulnerable in our society.”