Written Assembly Questions tabled on 5 March 2015 for answer on 12 March 2015

R - Signifies the Member has declared an interest.
W - Signifies that the question was tabled in Welsh.

(Self identifying Question no. shown in brackets)

Written Questions must be tabled at least five working days before they are to be answered. In practice, Ministers aim to answer within seven/eight days but are not bound to do so. Answers are published in the language in which they are provided, with a translation into English of responses provided in Welsh.

To ask the Minister for Finance and Government Business

Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Will the Minister make a statement on her development of a Welsh Treasury? (WAQ68456)

Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Will the Minister outline how many staff currently work within the newly developed Treasury department? (WAQ68457)

Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Will the Minister explain what support has been offered by the UK Government in the development of a Welsh Treasury and what support has been accepted? (WAQ68458)

Answer to follow.

Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Will the Minister outline how many staff have been newly recruited to work within the Welsh Treasury and how many have been seconded from other Welsh Government departments? (WAQ68459)

Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Will the Minister set out a timeline for the completion of a fully staffed and fully operational Welsh Treasury? (WAQ68460)

Andrew RT Davies (South Wales Central): Will the Minister outline how many projects, or 'streams', that the Welsh Treasury department is working upon, along with a description of each project? (WAQ68461)

Answer received on 13 March 2015 (WAQ68456-461)

The Minister for Finance and Government Business (Jane Hutt): I will be issuing a Written Statement later today which provides an update on progress to establish a Welsh Government Treasury, and which addresses these issues.​

 

To ask the Minister for Health and Social Services

Lynne Neagle (Torfaen): Will the Minister make a statement detailing the role and remit of the task and finish group set up to look at nursing care provided in residential homes in Wales, together with the expected timescale for the group to complete its work? (WAQ68462)

Answer received on 13 March 2015

Y Gweinidog Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol (Mark Drakeford): The Task and Finish group was established to look at the immediate issues around specific care home closures, however the scope was subsequently expanded to look at issues relating to the wider care home sector. The group has the following agreed aim:

To develop the Welsh Care Home sector into one that is fit for purpose in the 21st Century that supports all those needing care to live in the manner they choose, with the support they need. There is also a supporting terms of reference for the group and the key objectives are to:

• Provide strategic leadership and direction in relation to the care home sector to address specific issues, as well as ensuring the care and support needs of people are addressed longer term;
• Develop and ensure delivery of a programme of work ensuring it is co-ordinated effectively across government and with external partners.

The work programme is being taken forward through a number of workstreams, these include:

1. Vision and New Models – key focus of this workstream is to create a vision for care homes in Wales, to develop model terms and conditions which will inform the development of regulations and design a whole system approach to quality assurance
 

2. Market Analysis – this work will be led by the National Commissioning Board (NCB). The group is charged with designing a methodology to undertake a detailed market analysis of the sector which can be regularly updated and that can report at local authority, local health board and at an All Wales level.
 

3. Integrated Planning and Commissioning – again this work will be led by the NCB. This workstream will encompass the planning and commissioning of long term placements in nursing homes and residential care homes, transition or interim placements to facilitate hospital discharge and choice of accommodation.
   
   
4. Fee Setting – this workstream will establish methodologies and mechanisms to settling fees for placements, consideration of third party payments and link this to the management of waiting lists for care homes.
 

5. Workforce – this workstream will identify the actions required to improve recruitment & retention, training & qualifications for registered managers, nurses and direct care staff, the role of the professional, registered nurse within the home needs detailed consideration, the development and implementation of a national standard acuity tool to include guidelines on staffing levels and skills required and to ensure all this is placed in a suitable workforce planning context.
 

6. Best Practice and Quality – this workstream links closely to the vision work stream and will look at identifying good practice guidance, promote quality of care, and best practice public information.
 

The group is chaired by the Director of Social Services and Integration in Welsh Government and includes key policy leads within Welsh Government as well as representatives from Local Authorities (Directors of Social Services), Health Boards, the Care Council for Wales and Care Forum Wales.

Detailed project plans will be developed for each of the workstreams. Some aspects of work can be completed in the short term, but others will take much longer. I would be happy to provide a further update on progress.