National framework for commissioning care and support (WHC/2024/0234)

Status:

Compliance (must be complied with by the recipient) and action (specific action is required by the recipient).

Category:

Legislation.

Title:

Directions to apply the national framework for the commissioning of care and support in Wales: code of practice to local health boards and NHS trusts, August 2024.

Action by:

Local health boards and NHS trusts in Wales.

Required by:

From 1 September 2024.

Sender:

Bethan Jones Edwards,
Head of the National Office for Care and Support.

Albert Heaney,
Chief Social Care Officer for Wales.

Welsh Government contacts:

National Office for Care and Support
Welsh Government
Cathays Park
Cardiff
CF10 3NQ

Email: nationaloffice@gov.wales

Enclosures:

• National framework for commissioning care and support: code of practice.
• National Framework for the Commissioning of Care and Support in Wales Code of Practice and the Revised Code of Practice (General Functions) (Appointed Day) (Wales) Order 2024.
• The Directions to Local Health Boards and NHS Trusts in Wales on the National Framework for Commissioning Care and Support 2024.

Dear Colleagues

We are writing to notify you that a draft of the National framework for commissioning care and support: code of practice ("the national framework") was laid before the Senedd on 11 June and following the 40-day annulment period during which the Senedd did not resolve to not approve the draft of the code was issued on 24 July.

The code applies to the commissioning of "care and support" services by local authorities, local health boards and NHS trusts.

On 1 August the National Office for Care and Support launched the digital national framework (commissioning) toolkit of resources designed to support commissioners to implement and deliver the national framework’s principles and standards for commissioning care and support. This open, publicly accessible toolkit is hosted on the Social Care Wales communities platform, which enables members to be notified when new resources are added to the toolkit.

There is also the commissioning care and support (national framework) which is a closed community, restricted to local authority and NHS Wales commissioners. This provides an effective mechanism for the National Office for Care and Support to directly engage and work co-productively with commissioners of care and support as well as the wider sector.

On 27 August 2024, the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care made:

• National Framework for the Commissioning of Care and Support in Wales Code of Practice and the Revised Code of Practice (General Functions) (Appointed Day) (Wales) Order 2024 (“the order”), which will bring the national framework and the part 2 code of practice (general functions) into force on 1 September 2024
• The Directions to Local Health Boards and NHS Trusts in Wales on the National Framework for Commissioning Care and Support 2024 (“the direction”), which provides that local health boards and NHS trusts must carry out their functions in accordance with the relevant provisions of the national framework

Actions

The actions are:

• local health boards and NHS trusts are asked to note the coming into force of the national framework on 1 September through the making of the order
• local health boards and NHS trusts must comply with the directions i.e. they must from 1 September exercise their functions in accordance with the relevant provisions in the national framework
• in accordance with the provisions of the national framework, local health boards and NHS trusts must work collaboratively with local authorities in relation to the partnership and collaborative working requirements and guidance included in the national framework
• local health board and NHS trusts commissioners of care and support and other relevant colleagues are asked to sign-up as relevant to the Social Care Wales communities that are referred to above

Yours sincerely,

Judith and Albert

Judith Paget,
Director General of Health and Social Care and Chief Executive of NHS Wales.

Albert Heaney CBE,
Director of Social Services and Integration and Chief Social Care Officer for Wales.