National Assembly Committee opens public consultation on Social Services And Well-being Bill

01 February 2013

A National Assembly for Wales Committee has begun a public consultation on the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Bill.

The Bill has been proposed by the Welsh Government and its Explanatory Memorandum states:

The Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Bill provides for a single act for Wales that brings together local authorities’ duties and functions in relation to improving the well-being of people who need care and support and carers who need support. The Bill provides the statutory framework to deliver the Welsh Governments commitment to integrate social services to support people of all ages, and support people as part of families and communities.

It will transform the way social services are delivered, primarily through promoting people’s independence to give them stronger voice and control. Integration and simplification of the law for people will also provide greater consistency and clarity to people who use social services, their carers, local authority staff and their partner organisations, the courts and the judiciary. The Bill will promote equality, improve the quality of services and the provision of information people receive, as well as ensuring the right incentives for commissioners to achieve a shared focus on prevention and early intervention.

Among the issues the Health and Social Care Committee is investigating as part of its consultation are:

• Whether the Bill achieves its stated purposes;

• The key provisions set out in the Bill and whether they are appropriate to deliver its stated purposes;

• Potential barriers to the implementation of the key provisions and whether the Bill takes account of them; and,

• Whether there are any unintended consequences arising from the Bill;

“The Welsh Government’s intention with the Social Services and Well-being Bill is to help improve the well-being of people who need care and support and also of those who provide that care,” said Mark Drakeford AM, Chair of the Health and Social Care Committee.

“The Committee’s job at this stage of the legislative process is to decide whether the Bill would achieve that if it became law or whether existing legislation could be used to the same effect.

“I would urge anyone who either receives or provides care to consider this Bill, including its potential effect on their lives and whether or not its impact will be a positive one.”

The deadline for the public consultation is Friday 15 March 2013.

Anyone wishing to submit evidence can either email HSCCommittee@wales.gov.uk or write to: Legislation Clerk, Health and Social Care Committee, National Assembly for Wales, Cardiff Bay, Cardiff, CF99 1NA.

Link to more information on the Health and Social Care Committee

Link to more information on the Social Services (Wales) Bill