A social care pioneer has taken on a new role dedicated to driving up standards across the UK.
Mario Kreft MBE, Honorary Chief Executive of Care Forum Wales, has been appointed as the Welsh representative on the board of the Social Care Institute of Excellence (SCIE), a national organisation based in London.
The announcement’s was made by the Chair of SCIE’s trustees, Allan Bowman, who warmly welcomed Mario to the board.
As the proprietor of the award-winning Pendine Park organisation, Mario has been providing domiciliary and residential care services in North Wales for 25 years.
Last year he was honoured by the Queen who appointed him an MBE for his services to social care in Wales. He says:
Mario said: “I’m delighted to have been appointed the Welsh representative on the Board at SCIE.
“SCIE supports the social care sector across the UK, and I’m looking forward to ensuring the views of people providing and receiving these services in Wales are heard in our country and in the UK as a whole.
“It’s an important time for social care in Wales and I look forward to playing an active role on the SCIE board.”
Mario has held a number of voluntary roles as an independent sector representative, including the position of Vice Chair of the National Care Homes Association, which he left in 1993 to concentrate on his voluntary efforts in Wales.
His achievements include co-founding Care Forum Wales and creating the highly successful Wales Care Awards to recognised the skill and selfless dedication of people working in social care.
According to the Deputy Minister for Social Services in Wales, Gwenda Thomas, the appointment to the board of SCIE was richly deserved.
She said: “Mario brings a wealth of experience to his role as the Welsh representative on the Board of SCIE, having worked in the care sector for 25 years.
“His commitment and the enormous contribution he had made, and continues to make, to the independent sector here in Wales, is to be applauded.
“He has been extremely influential in his work to improve social care services, and in his promotion of issues relating to the development and recognition of the social care workforce. I very much welcome the appointment of Mario to this role”.
