Local People To Have A Greater Say In Their Care And Support

The way in which vulnerable people receive care and support is set to change across Wales on 6 April with the launch of the Social Services and Well-Being (Wales) Act. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Designed to give people a greater say in how their care and support is assessed and delivered by local providers, the Act will radically transform the way in which sustainable services meet the needs of individuals. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

A website has been set up at www.gov.wales/careandsupport which offers full details about the new Act and what impact it will have on carers, children and young people, older residents and disabled people. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Under the Act, the current threshold system has been replaced with new eligibility criteria which focuses on individual need and gives carers an equal right to assessment for support to those they care for. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

It ensures that more information and advice is easily available, simplifies assessment procedures, makes sure that services can provide the right support at the right time and strengthens powers for safeguarding children and vulnerable adults. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Act also requires local authorities and health boards to develop new statutory partnerships that can drive forward greater integration, innovation and service change. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Councillor Phil White, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Health and Wellbeing, said: “The Social Services and Well-Being (Wales) Act gives people a stronger voice and real control over the support they need to remove barriers to their wellbeing. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“It focuses on earlier intervention, increasing preventative services within the community and helping people to maintain their independence.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Councillor Hailey Townsend, Cabinet Member for Social Services and Equalities, added: “The new Act is a landmark development in social care and wellbeing. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“It provides a framework that enables people to get the help they need before their situation becomes critical, and helps deliver improved outcomes for local people by promoting greater integration between health and social care services. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“People who are already receiving care and support will take part in the new process on their next scheduled review date, and it will be automatically applied to all new applications.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​