Dear Catherine

Following on from my oral evidence to the ES Committee yesterday morning please see attached as additional information a letter to the Wales Carers Alliance from Albert Heaney, Director of Social Services and Integration.

The letter dated 13.01.14. clearly states that the intention of the WG amendment introducing sec.14.3 to the Social Services and Wellbeing Act was intended to address the issues resulting from the repeal of the Carers (Strategies) Measure 2010. By retain a specific obligation on Local Health Boards for carers as well as maintaining the detail of the strategies from the Carers Measure in regulations.

This amendment (115) was introduced on 24.01.14. during Stage 3 of the SSWB Bill. The Act gained Royal Assent on 1^st May 2014.

On 7^th July the WBFG Bill was introduced and repealed sec.14.3 of the Social Services and Wellbeing Act as well as sec.40 of the NHS (Wales) 2006 Act to which it refers.

From the enactment of the Carers Strategies Measure in 2012, which provided a clear and straight forward joint planning mechanism for carers to the introduction of the WBFG Bill, there has been a steady dilution in the legal status of strategic planning for carers. This not only represents an extremely convoluted legal process but has undermined the implementation and delivery of WG carers policy at a local level across Wales.

As the most straight forward way to resolve this issue, the Wales Carers Alliance is calling on the Welsh Government not to enact the repeal of the Carers Strategies (Measure) 2010 and to include the local carers strategies under the Measure in the list of matters the Public Service Boards must take into account when undertaking their wellbeing assessments under sec.36 of the WBFG Bill.

Do let me know if the Committee require any further information on this issue

Thank you

Keith

Keith Bowen

Director

Carers Wales

Carers Wales, River House, Ynys Bridge Court, Gwaelod-Y-Garth, Cardiff CF15 9SS

Keith Bowen

Chair of Wales Carers Alliance

13 January 2014

Dear Keith

At the meeting with the Deputy Minister for Social Services on 18 December, you requested further clarification on how the provisions within the Carers Measure would be incorporated within the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Bill. You also raised a particular matter regarding the Local Health Board leadership role in relation to Health and Well-being Strategies and Carers Information and Consultation Strategies.

The Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Bill introduces a number of gains for carers. For example, the Bill provides a wider definition of carers which includes those who provide, or intend to provide care. The Bill also places a requirement on Local Authorities and Local Health Boards to work together to assess the extent of needs for care and support, which also includes the needs of carers. This means carers will, for the first time, have a right to an assessment of their own support needs. Consultation with carers will also be an integral part of the assessment process for the person cared for. The Code of Practice will set out the expectation of the detailed arrangements that must be in place for consulting carers and the people they care for.

It is our intention to bring forward an amendment, for consideration at Stage 3, which will retain a specific obligation for Local Health Boards in relation to Health and Well-being Strategies.

The Deputy Minister for Social Services also confirmed at the meeting that in relation to the prescription of appropriate information and advice, this will be incorporated with the Regulations and/or Code of Practice which will underpin the Bill.

I am aware that Andy Pithouse has recently spoken to you and that Lisa Dunsford will be attending the Wales Carers Alliance meeting tomorrow. However, I am more than happy to meet, or speak to you, if there are any further issues or concerns.

Yours sincerely

ALBERT HEANEY

Director of Social Services and Integration