It brings together and modernises social services law in Wales. It changes the way social services are delivered to improve the well-being of the people of Wales. You will have more of a say in your care and make decisions in an equal partnership with professionals. You will be able to get information and advice to help you. Organisations such as local authorities and the NHS will work in partnership to make systems simpler and more efficient.
The Act came into force, 6 April 2016.
Well-being means you are happy, healthy and comfortable with your life and what you do. The Act sets out a definition of well-being for people who need care and support. Welsh Government has produced a
Well-being StatementExternal link opens in a new window to look at the well-being outcomes people who need care and support, and carers who need support can expect to achieve.
Your family and friends can take part in discussions and help you.
If this isn’t an option for you, you will be able to access advocacy services.
There will be a National Independent Safeguarding Board who will consider the effectiveness of safeguarding arrangements across Wales.
They will monitor performance throughout the country and make recommendations to the Welsh Government about improvements that could be made.
Laws to protect adults and children from abuse or neglect have also been strengthened.
The local authority and health board are required to work together to assess the population and find out what care and support is needed in their area. The assessment gives an idea of the preventative services that need to be made available. Local authorities are also required to provide information, advice and assistance services. In addition, local authorities must promote the involvement of people who receive care and support, in the design and delivery of services, along with alternative delivery models including; social enterprises, co-operatives, user-led services and the voluntary sector.
A social enterprise is a business with profits re-invested back into its services or the community.
A co-operative is a group of people acting together voluntarily to meet an economic and social need in their community.
User led services are run and controlled by the people who use support services.
The Welsh Government’s
Social Business Wales websiteExternal link opens in a new window has information about how to set up a social enterprise.
Assessment will be simpler, and will be based on your needs.
It will be completed in partnership with you and your family, and the professional working with you. A conversation will take place to establish what matters to you and what you need to achieve well-being. This will consider your strengths, and the resources and options available to you- including any support the local authority may provide.
Direct Payments maybe offered as an option. If you agree to direct payments, you will be given the money to organise your own care and support to meet your well-being outcomes, increasing your personal control and choice.
Local authorities and health boards in particular are working closely to
deliver better integrated health and social care services. Together, they
assess care and support requirements in their area to identify and provide the
services needed. The assessment and care planning process requires
organisations to work together in an integrated approach to reduce duplication.
Carers have the right to an assessment of their support needs, and to receive an appropriate level of support from the local authority.
If you and your foster family want to stay together when you reach the
age of 18, you will be supported to do so until you are 21. This may be
extended to your 25th birthday if you are in education or training.
The National Adoption Service was established in 2014. It brings together all local councils to work together with voluntary adoption organisations in Wales. Results are already showing that the process is now quicker with better support available to families.
The way you pay for care if you have the financial means to do so is uniform across Wales - one set of assessment and charging arrangements for all adults asked to pay for their care. This is for both residential and non-residential care. Everyone paying a charge receives a detailed statement explaining its calculation and it can be queried where necessary. In 2011, Welsh Government announced a cap on the amount councils can charge for non-residential care and support - this cap remains and is £60 per week.
Local authorities across Wales record their performance, and can
compare themselves with other areas. They learn and improve by sharing best
practice. The Welsh Government reports on progress towards well-being in an
annual report.