TRADE unions called for profit to be removed entirely from social care in Wales today as a new report shows that 75 per cent of identified adult care home places in Wales are run by for-profit providers.

The report commissioned by Unison Cymru and TUC Cymru shows that the only significant growth in supply of care home places between 2020 and 2025 came from investment firm-owned providers.

Investment firm providers now supply 17 per cent of places, a larger share than local government.

The previous Labour-led Welsh government removed profit from children’s social care, and the unions are calling on Plaid Cymru to extend the commitment to all forms of social care, including adult care homes.

TUC Cymru head of policy Amber Courtney said: “Private social care providers in Cymru are no longer predominantly smaller homes rooted in the community.

“Instead, big global players have become increasingly involved and removing profit would mean public money is invested solely for public benefit.

“Without a change, social care is going to get ever more expensive for us all.”

Unison Cymru regional secretary Jess Turner said: “Care workers are calling on the new Welsh government to take the opportunity to complete the job of removing profit from all care. 

“Public services should be delivered for the public benefit, by well-paid workers working in the public interest.”

Report author Vivek Kotecha, from the Centre for International Corporate Tax Accountability and Research (CICTAR), said: “When care is treated as an opportunity to make money it is care workers, and our loved ones that they care for, that suffer while others become rich.

“CICTAR has carried out research into private-care companies across the UK and around the globe and the trends are very clear.

“With the only significant growth in the supply of care home places in Wales over the last five years coming from global investment firms, the government urgently needs to change the direction of travel before it is too late.”

A Welsh government spokesperson said: “We remain committed to our long-term ambition of moving towards social care that is free at the point of need. 

“Our focus is on delivering practical and sustainable improvements that strengthen the system now, including greater integration between health and social care, improving national consistency through the National Office for Care and Support, and supporting fair pay and sustainable models of care.”