Agenda item

The Leader presented the report to Cabinet Member colleagues.  The Welsh Government published a White Paper on Rebalancing Care and Support and was consulting on proposals to introduce new legislation to improve social care arrangements and strengthen partnership working to achieve the vision set out in the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014. 

As a member of the Gwent Regional Partnership Board it was important for the Council to contribute towards the consultation that would assist in shaping and developing the future partnership arrangements across health and social care.

The delivery of social care services (Adults and Children) made significant progress in the last ten years transforming the delivery of social care through the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 and the Regulation and Inspection of Social Care (Wales) Act 2016.  Both of these Acts were aligned and shaped by the Well-being of Future Generations Act 2015 which strived towards the Well-being Goal ‘A Healthier Wales’ and having a health and social care system that works for everyone. 

There were four specific proposals set out in the paper for consultation, these were:

1.   The Development of a national commissioning framework which would standardise commissioning processes for care services including the method for determining the fees paid to care providers in the independent and voluntary sector.

2.   To establish a national care commissioning office either within Welsh Government or through setting up a small arms-length body.

3.   Introduce a Chief Social Care and Social Work Officer located within Welsh Government to function as the national, professional voice for Social Care and Social Workers.

4.   Establish Regional Partnership Boards as corporate legal entities and enhanced their functions to enable RPBs to directly employ staff; ensure transparent accountability in relation to pooled budgets and joint commissioning by local authorities and health boards; hold integrated budgets; undertake direct commissioning of health and care with agreement from local partners; establish a planning and performance monitoring framework within each RPB; and be required to report to Welsh Ministers on progress of joint delivery against their integrated priorities.

The Consultation set out by The Deputy Minister for Health and Social Services sought views on the proposals to introduce the new legislation to improve social care arrangements and strengthen partnership working.  The Deputy Minister was seeking views that would be considered in developing any new legislation and responses needed to be submitted by 6 April 2021 at the latest.   The consultation set out 12 questions covering all aspects of the proposals.  The Council’s proposed response to the Consultation questions were outlined in Appendix 1. 

The Leader invited the Corporate Director – People/Head of Adult and Community Services to say a few words to Cabinet.

The Corporate Director highlighted that the paper was a significant step forward in indicating the direction of travel to deliver the ambitions in the Social Services and Wellbeing Act.  The thread running through this was greater integration with health and social care.  Discussions with colleagues at the WG also indicated this as well as wanting to hear the views of the public.  It was however important to understand how it shaped the future relationship between the local authorities and the regional partnership board and with WG itself.  It represented a significant step in that direction and it was important that we contributed to the consultation, as this was the second biggest budget area for local authorities and would have a significant impact on the future arrangements in relation to social care.

Comments from Cabinet Members:

Councillor Cockeram raised some issues relating to the consultation. The social services policy group met with the minister and felt positive about the prospect of a framework being put in place, along with funding pot, however the Cabinet Member was disappointed with white paper. There were mixed thoughts on this and the regional partnership board chairs were also disappointed, as they were doing particularly well with new ways of working.  The Cabinet Member was concerned about the impact on sustainability if the funding depleted.  The paper was also very extensive, with a lot of pressure on the WG.  There was an increase in the older age population, dementia was also on the increase, these were issues that would need to be tackled.  The Cabinet Member questioned where did social services fit into this and what contribution would the Council be making.  The Cabinet Member did however applaud the move by the WG to put a Chief Officer for Social Services in the WG.  There were some good aspects within the paper however, he did have concerns regarding the future of the regional partnership board.  The deadline of 6 April was also a short period to do the White Paper justice.

Councillor Truman stressed that there was an opportunity to express any views or concerns during this consultation period.  There were many points to consider in particular how the national framework would operate and a lot of clarification on how the proposal put by the WG.

The Leader echoed comments of her colleagues and agreed that the regional partnership board, under the guidance of the Cabinet Member for Social Services was working well and in light of this, there was concern that there may be issues regarding governance.  Considering the consequences of the White Paper, it was therefore important that Cabinet shared their views with Welsh Government. 

Decision:

That Cabinet considered the contents of the report and agreed the consultation response for submission by the closing date of 6 April 2021.