Ken Price Appointed Chair of the Cardiff and Vale Domiciliary Providers Association

We are very proud to announce that Ken Price, Registered Manager at ND Care & Support Cardiff has been appointed as Chair of the Cardiff and Vale Domiciliary Providers Association. He was appointed as Chair for the year in September 2019 and will hold the position until the next AGM in 2020.

The Cardiff Domiciliary Care Providers Association, later known as the Cardiff and Vale Domiciliary Care Providers Association, was formed in 1993 as a formal association that represents the interests of domiciliary care providers in Cardiff and develops a positive working relationship with Cardiff Social Services. The group is comprised of owners and senior managers of domiciliary care companies who work within the city of Cardiff and are approved by the Local Authority to provide care services.

The group meet on a regular basis to discuss topics and issues that affect our businesses and the services that we provide. Over the last few years, the group have been instrumental in helping to improve the quality of domiciliary care in Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan, representing the interests of care providers on key issues, such as:

• Monitoring the Direct Payment arrangement in Cardiff
• Social Care Workforce Development Partnership representatives on working group and main board
• Working with local authorities in developing a medication policy
• Representation on the stakeholder group for the “fair deal for Cardiff” process
• Quarterly meeting with Senior Officers of Cardiff Social Services to propose items and inform the provider quarterly meeting agenda
• Meeting with Corporate Directors of Social Services and Executive Councillors
• Input into helping to shape the Social Services and Well Being (Wales) Act 2014, and the Regulation and Registration white papers, through our close working links with Social Care Wales and their influence with the Welsh Government.

What is the role of the Chair of the Cardiff and Vale Domiciliary Providers Association?

Ken’s role as Chair of the Cardiff and Vale Domiciliary Providers Association covers a range of duties, including:

• Creating a more positive working relationship between domiciliary care providers and the Officers of the Councils by promoting the “working in partnership” objective
• Engaging in structured forum meetings with the Council’s senior management team to express opinions of members detailed through the association’s general meetings
• Promoting a collective working relationship between providers within Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan
• Working closely with senior managers to agree a collective and positive working platform within the councils
• Discussing a structured approach to express opinions to the Councils through members meetings
• Standing as a collective group through information sharing on relevant issues surrounding the delivery of Domiciliary Care services.

Ken was already considering applying for the position of Vice for Cardiff, but after discussion with the previous Chair, he was asked to consider taking on the Chair post for the next term and decided to accept this. As a member of the Cardiff and Vale Domiciliary Providers Association for many years, and with numerous longstanding professional relationships with both Council Officials and fellow care providers, Ken was in a good position to accept the role of Chair.

According to Ken’s Manager, Rebecca Ford, “this is a great opportunity for Ken to be a part of shaping the future of care services in Cardiff and the Vale. Ken knows the challenges that face care providers and he will now be in a position to advocate on their behalf. This role will be demanding but equally rewarding, and I know Ken will make it a success.”

What does this mean for Ken?

It’s an exciting, yet challenging time for the care sector, with the introduction of new legislation like the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 and the Regulation and Inspection of Social Care (Wales) Act 2016 (RISCA), alongside Health and Social Care Practice Qualifications and the hot topic of the registration of the workforce through Social Care Wales. A lot has been changing recently in the care sector and Ken has been able to be part of the testing and learning process with Cardiff Council. He has been able to help shape the way forward in preparation for the new Approved Providers List, looking at commissioning and monitoring via an outcome-focused approach.

Ken commented “having worked in the care sector for what seems like a lifetime (28yrs!), I have a vested interest in shaping the future marketplace of social care in this area over the coming years. I am keen to be part of the decision-making process, looking for innovative ways to move away from the current model of task and finish, to a more person-centred, strength-based approach. We have a challenging time ahead in our sector with the cost-cutting and budget restructuring, but taking on this new challenge will hopefully enable me to use my knowledge and experience in supporting the providers to have a voice.”

Congratulations to Ken on this fantastic achievement. We have no doubt that you will be an asset to the Cardiff and Vale Domiciliary Providers Association and your passion, knowledge and experience will be invaluable to them. We wish you all the best in this exciting new role and we look forward to seeing what the future holds with you in the position of Chair.