WORKERS welcomed plans today to remove profit-making from children’s care services in Wales after they cleared a hurdle in the Senedd.

If the Bill becomes law, no new for-profit providers of children’s care homes, fostering and secure accommodation services would be able to register in Wales from April 2026.

Existing for-profit providers would need to transition to one of four models set out in the Bill, verifying their registration with Care Inspectorate Wales by 2030.

Unison Cymru head of social care Mark Turner said: “Unison has been closely involved with this work and has lobbied hard for the removal of profit from all public services, including care.

“Removing profit from looked-after children’s services cannot come soon enough and the Health and Social Care Bill shows Wales is leading the way for the rest of the UK to follow.

“Public services should be delivered directly through local authorities, not for the benefit of private companies looking to boost their bank balance.”

Wales’ social care minister Dawn Bowden said: “Eliminating profit remains a very high priority for this government and we want to do that as quickly as possible.”

She warned that the cost of caring for looked-after children has increased from £60 million a decade ago to nearer £200m today, with councils facing a £1 billion bill in 10 years.

Ms Bowden stressed the intention behind the legislation was the removal of all profit.

The Bill now moves to stage four of the Senedd’s legislative process and is likely to be approved on February 4 before going on to receive royal assent.