National Assembly for Wales / Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru
Health and Social Care Committee/ Y Pwyllgor Iechyd a Gofal Cymdeithasol

Regulation and Inspection of Social Care (Wales) Bill / Bil Rheoleiddio ac Arolygu Gofal Cymdeithasol (Cymru)

Evidence from Welsh Reablement, Wales Carers and Social Care and Wellbeing Alliances – RISC AI 01 / Tystiolaeth gan Gynghrair Ail-alluogi Cymru, Cynghrair Cynhalwyr Cymru a Chynghrair Gofal Cymdeithasol a Lles – RISC AI 01

Note supplemental to evidence given 29.04.15 to the Health and Social Care Committee in their stage 1 scrutiny of the Regulation and Inspection of Social Care (Wales) Bill.

The Welsh Reablement, Wales Carers and Social Care and Wellbeing Alliances welcome the intent to set clear standards (S26) against which inspections will be undertaken. Whilst the Minister’s intention is to ensure that well-being is reflected in the standards delivering that ‘care’, its omission in the overarching definition suggests it is not fundamental to care and support provided by regulated services compared to all care and support services as set out in the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014. This is vital to ensure equitable and objective inspections which provide both a quality judgement and evidence to act where urgent action is needed. The alliances support that intention.

However, on that basis we are unsure what the definition of care is there to achieve. If it is solely to support section 26 it would seem superfluous and potentially distracting. If it is there for other purposes as well, we would continue to recommend that it be removed or altered and replaced with a definition which supports more explicitly the intent of the 2014 Act and which sets the context that care is provided in a dignified power balanced and respectful personal relationship. The definition needs to provide users with a real understanding of what care means and what they can expect. There should be a clear line of sight from standards to the definition.

6^th May 2015

Ruth Crowder

Tim Ruscoe

Kieron Rees