BASW Cymru manifesto for 2026: Cymru Decides
Our Manifesto can be downloaded here in full, however in summary, our Key Asks for the next Welsh Government are:
1. Introduce a national pay scale for social workers across Wales, ensuring parity with teachers and the Welsh NHS.
2. Support the creation of a Code of Professional Practice specific to social workers who practice in Wales. These will raise the standing of the profession by providing enhanced guidance, setting clearer standards and identifying social work as a profession distinct from social care.
3. Invest in a nationally recognised Continuing Professional Development (CPD) framework for social work in Wales. Fully funded and recognised by the profession and employers.
4. Increase the financial value of social work bursaries for student social workers, to increase the number of students starting on their social work journey. An increase will aim to widen the social demographic of those entering the profession and to support student social workers to qualify without negative impacts on them and their families.
5. Invest in communities across Wales to create significant social, economic, and environmental benefits, contributing to overall well-being and resilience and position the social worker profession as a pivotal role in maximising the impact of these investments, acting as facilitators, advocates, and practitioners who bridge individual needs with systemic change.
6. Implement a nation-wide media campaign across Wales to promote the social work profession in a positive manner and to encourage a wider diversity of people entering the profession. Specifically, to attract men, who currently make up less than 25% of the profession in Wales.
7. Recognise unpaid carers as a priority group in shaping future anti-poverty and cost-of-living policies and work collaboratively with unpaid carer organisations and carers to develop these measures.
1. Introduce a national pay scale for social workers across Wales, ensuring parity with teachers and the Welsh NHS.
2. Support the creation of a Code of Professional Practice specific to social workers who practice in Wales. These will raise the standing of the profession by providing enhanced guidance, setting clearer standards and identifying social work as a profession distinct from social care.
3. Invest in a nationally recognised Continuing Professional Development (CPD) framework for social work in Wales. Fully funded and recognised by the profession and employers.
4. Increase the financial value of social work bursaries for student social workers, to increase the number of students starting on their social work journey. An increase will aim to widen the social demographic of those entering the profession and to support student social workers to qualify without negative impacts on them and their families.
5. Invest in communities across Wales to create significant social, economic, and environmental benefits, contributing to overall well-being and resilience and position the social worker profession as a pivotal role in maximising the impact of these investments, acting as facilitators, advocates, and practitioners who bridge individual needs with systemic change.
6. Implement a nation-wide media campaign across Wales to promote the social work profession in a positive manner and to encourage a wider diversity of people entering the profession. Specifically, to attract men, who currently make up less than 25% of the profession in Wales.
7. Recognise unpaid carers as a priority group in shaping future anti-poverty and cost-of-living policies and work collaboratively with unpaid carer organisations and carers to develop these measures.