National Care Academy for Wales: Operating Model Design and Implementation Planning (Workstream 2)

Background (a) National Care Academy for Wales Social Care Wales, sponsored by the National Office for Care and Support and working in partnership with the Association of Directors of Social Services Cymru (ADSS Cymru), is leading the design and development of a National Care Academy for the social work and social care in Wales. The National Care Academy for Wales is intended to: - Provide a national framework and virtual infrastructure for workforce learning, development and progression. - Support locally delivered learning, development and academy activity. - Promote clear and accessible career pathways across the social work and social care workforce. - Support implementation of the Pay and Progression Framework and wider workforce priorities. - Maximise the value of existing learning, development and workforce investment. - Be delivered collaboratively by Social Care Wales, Welsh Government, the National Office for Care and Support, ADSS Cymru, local authorities and wider sector partners. - Not operate as a standalone training provider. (b) Workstream 1: National Care Academy for Wales Workforce Learning and Development Mapping and Discovery Exercise Workstream 1 mobilised on 1 October 2026 and will focus on developing a comprehensive understanding of the current social work and social care learning, development and progression landscape across Wales, including existing workforce development activity, career pathways, Care Academy models, and opportunities for future improvement. Introduction - Workstream 2 (this commission) This commission represents Workstream 2 of the National Care Academy programme and will build directly upon the findings, evidence and recommendations emerging from the National Care Academy Mapping and Discovery Exercise (Workstream 1) to move the programme from discovery into service design, testing and implementation planning. This commission will focus on developing: - A detailed, co-designed National Care Academy Target Operating Model and Service Blueprint. - A clear National Care Academy offer that complements and supports existing local, regional and national workforce development activity. - A preferred operating and delivery model, supported by stakeholder testing, governance, oversight, accountability and partnership arrangements. - Benefits realisation, performance management and evaluation frameworks. - A phased implementation roadmap, including recommendations for a Minimum Viable Model (MVM). - Implementation cost and resource considerations. Social Care Wales will make available all relevant Workstream 1 outputs as they are completed throughout the contract term, including reports, supporting evidence, datasets and presentation materials. The supplier will build upon and refine the evidence gathered through Workstream 1 rather than repeat or duplicate discovery activity. The supplier will be expected to undertake the design process collaboratively with key stakeholders across the sector, using co-design, stakeholder engagement and structured testing approaches to develop, refine and validate proposed models. Suppliers must demonstrate how stakeholder insight and feedback have influenced the evolution and selection of the preferred model. The successful supplier will also be expected to work collaboratively with any future supplier commissioned to develop branding, communications and promotional activity for the National Care Academy, ensuring all recommendations contribute towards a coherent, integrated and sustainable national proposition. - Implementation Approach Social Care Wales anticipates that the National Care Academy will be developed incrementally through a phased approach rather than implemented in its entirety from the outset. Suppliers should therefore consider how a preferred model could initially be established through a Minimum Viable Model (MVM) that delivers early value, achieves organisational readiness and establishes the foundations for future growth. Recommendations should clearly distinguish between the components required for initial implementation and those that may be introduced through subsequent phases as the National Care Academy evolves and matures. Aims and Objectives The aim of this commission is to develop a co-designed, evidence-based, stakeholder-tested and scalable National Care Academy Model for Wales that supports workforce learning, development and career progression across the social work and social care sectors. Building on the findings, evidence and recommendations emerging from Workstream 1, the commission will develop, test and refine a preferred National Care Academy Model that provides a clear national offer whilst supporting local delivery and maximising existing investment in workforce development activity across Wales. The commission seeks to establish a National Care Academy Model that includes: - A clear relationship between national leadership, infrastructure and coordination functions, and locally delivered learnin