The Care Council for Wales has launched its search for the best-performing teams and organisations in the Welsh social care sector as the 2009 Social Care Accolades officially get underway.

The aim of the Accolades – now being held for the third time – is to uncover, recognise and publicly reward teams, partnerships and organisations, which have helped transform social care services in their area by investing in the learning and development of their people.

There are eight categories in the 2009 Social Care Accolades. They are:

• Leading on learning
• Offering opportunity, changing chances
• Learning about caring, caring about learning
• Community engagement
• Being a learning organisation
• Investing in the workforce
• Learning together
• Language choice and dignity in care

Application forms are available at the Care Council for Wales website, www.ccwales.gov.uk, or by calling Denise French at the Care Council for Wales on 029 2078 0687.

Deadline for entries is 2 February 2009, with winners announced at an official ceremony hosted by the Deputy Minister for Social Services on 18 June 2009.