--- title: "Evaluation of Pay Structures to Support Recruitment and Retention in Social Care in Wales" ocid: "ocds-kuma6s-155392" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-kuma6s-155392" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-kuma6s-155392.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-kuma6s-155392.json" source: "Sell2Wales" current_stage: "Planning" buyer: "SOCIAL CARE WALES" published: "2025-09-04" --- # Evaluation of Pay Structures to Support Recruitment and Retention in Social Care in Wales Buyer: SOCIAL CARE WALES Current stage: Planning OCID: ocds-kuma6s-155392 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-kuma6s-155392) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-kuma6s-155392.json) ## Summary This public procurement process, initiated by Social Care Wales, aims to evaluate pay structures to support recruitment and retention in the social care sector across Wales. Social Care Wales, classified as a ministry or national authority, operates from their Cardiff base and is currently in the planning stage of this procurement process. The tender focuses on a comprehensive assessment of existing pay rates for social care workers in Wales to enhance workforce sustainability. It falls under the services industry category, with an emphasis on research, development, and social work services. Potential participants are encouraged to review the Preliminary Market Engagement Notice for detailed insights into the project's objectives and to register their interest via the Sell2Wales platform. This tender presents substantial opportunities for businesses specialising in research and development, social research, and health and social work services. Companies with expertise in these areas can leverage this opportunity to contribute insights into the development of strategies that address recruitment and retention challenges in the social care sector. Businesses capable of offering consultancy services that encompass wage rate analysis, job satisfaction metrics, and strategic recommendations will be well-suited to compete in this procurement process. By participating, businesses can position themselves as key contributors to a major public-sector initiative aimed at enhancing the working conditions and sustainability of the social care workforce in Wales. ## Notice Recruitment and retention remains an ongoing challenge for the social care sector in Wales recognising that this experience is not exclusive to Wales and remains a core theme of the health and social care workforce delivery plan. While a lot of progress has been made against the ambition of the delivery plan, staff salaries remain a consistently reported challenge for the sector. Feedback indicates that increased wages would make a significant difference to attracting, recruiting and retaining staff within in the social care sector.As part of the response to this challenge, a Draft Pay and Progression Frameworkhas been developed by the Social Care Fair Work Forum, which was established by the Welsh Government in September 2020 following a recommendation from the Fair Work Wales Commission. The Social Care Fair Work Forum are a social partnership group made up of employers, trade unions and other stakeholders. Their aim is to improve working arrangements for social care workers in Wales. This means making sure workers are fairly rewarded, heard and represented, and able to progress in a healthy, inclusive environment where rights are respected.The pay and progression framework is designed to meet the ambitions of Wales's fair work commitment and the workforce strategy for health and social care. It aims to:* improve recruitment and retention in the social care sector;* support development of the workforce through continued improvement of skills and knowledge;* provide a clear progression route for those thinking of joining, or already working in, the sector;* provide a simplified framework for social care employers and employees;* describe and standardise positive behaviours of social care workers;* provide a fair and transparent process for decisions on collective and individual wage decisions (at this stage in individual organisations).Work is continuing to refine the content of the pay and progression framework, with this commission focuses on the pay element.Aims and ObjectivesThe aim of this project is to assess existing pay rates for social care workers in Wales and recommend changes to improve the equity and support workforce sustainability.The objectives of this project are to:- Identify variations in pay rates based on factors such as job role, experience, qualifications, and type of care setting, include part of the sector i.e. statutory, private or voluntary.- Where possible, evaluate the impact of pay rates on recruitment, retention, and job satisfaction among social care workers.- Produce a report which details the findings from the engagement across the sector and provides recommendations for changes to improve pay equity and support workforce sustainability.Please see the Preliminary Market Engagement Notice for more informationNOTE: To register your interest in this notice and obtain any additional information please visit the Sell2Wales Web Site at https://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/Search/Search_Switch.aspx?ID=155392. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Sell2Wales | | Latest notice | https://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/search/search_switch.aspx?ID=155392 | | Notice type | S2W Notice - Website Prior Information Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Services | | Procurement method | Not Specified | | Procurement method details | Not specified | | Tender suitability | Not specified | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Planning | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 4 Sep 2025 | | Submission deadline | Not specified | | Future notice date | Not specified | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | Not specified | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | Not specified | | Lots value | Not specified | | Awards value | Not specified | | Contracts value | Not specified | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Not specified | | Lots status | Not specified | | Awards status | Not specified | | Contracts status | Not specified | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | SOCIAL CARE WALES | | Locality | CARDIFF | | Post town | Cardiff | | Postcode | CF10 1EW | | Country | Wales | | ITL 1 | TLL Wales | | ITL 2 | TLL5 South East Wales | | ITL 3 | TLL52 Cardiff and Vale of Glamorgan | | Local authority | Cardiff | | Electoral ward | Cathays | | Westminster constituency | Cardiff South and Penarth | | Delivery location | Not specified | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services - 79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security - 85 - Health and social work services ### Codes - 73000000 - Research and development services and related consultancy services - 79315000 - Social research services - 85000000 - Health and social work services - 85300000 - Social work and related services ## Release History - 4 Sep 2025 at 16:47 - Planning - S2W Notice - Website Prior Information Notice - https://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/search/search_switch.aspx?ID=155392 ## Notice URLs - http://www.socialcare.wales - https://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/Search/Search_Switch.aspx?ID=155392 ## Provenance This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-kuma6s-155392. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-kuma6s-155392.json.