Assembly Committee to hear evidence on social care planning

The Health, Wellbeing and Local Government Committee will continue its enquiry into Workforce Planning this week. The Committee will hear evidence from the Association of Directors of Social Services, the Centre for Social Carework Research at Swansea University and the School of Postgraduate Medical & Dental Education at Cardiff University. The Committee is carrying out an inquiry into workforce planning for the Health Service and Social Care in Wales and is calling for those with an interest or expertise in this area to submit written evidence. The inquiry is looking at issues concerning the healthcare workforce in Wales such as shortages of GPs in some areas, levels of nursing vacancies filled by bank and agency staff, training places for junior doctors, and the availability of posts for newly qualified Allied Health Professionals (AHPs). The social care sector employs 70,000 people in Wales, with services provided by the public, voluntary and private sectors. The inquiry is looking at recruitment and retention difficulties for social care staff and the impact of Government policies in these areas. The meeting takes place at 9:15am on Wednesday 24 October 2007 in Committee Room 2, Senedd, Cardiff Bay. Full details and an agenda