Julie Morgan MS, Deputy Minister for Social Services
Last year I issued a consultation which set out a number of proposals for changes to primary legislation intended to contribute to improving the quality of experience for everyone who uses social care services in Wales.
The consultation sought views on:
- eliminating profit from the care of children looked after, as part of our Updated Programme for Government, our Co-operation Agreement and ongoing work with Designated Members, and in support of our wider reform of children’s services
- introducing direct payments for continuing health care, to support our Programme for Government commitment to improve the interface between continuing health care and Direct Payments
- in principle, extending mandatory reporting of children and adults at risk
- amendments to regulation of service providers, responsible individuals and the social care workforce. This included extending the definition of social care worker to include childcare and play workers for certain purposes.
The consultation ran between 17 August and 7 November 2022. We were pleased to receive 200 responses, from a wide range of individuals and organisations, across Wales and beyond. We have carefully considered all responses and, today, have published a summary of responses.
The matters raised through this consultation exercise will inform further development of our policy and legislation in relation to the areas covered, and we will continue to engage with our delivery partners and others who seek to improve social care and continuing health care in Wales.