Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru | National Assembly for Wales

Y Pwyllgor Plant, Pobl Ifanc ac Addysg | Children, Young People and Education Committee

Ymchwiliad i Eiriolaeth Statudol | Inquiry into Statutory Advocacy Provision

 

SAP 07

Ymateb gan : Bwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Hywel Dda

Response from : Hywel Dda University Health Board

 

The latest position on the implementation of the National Approach to Statutory Advocacy for Children and Young People.

Hywel Dda UHB has worked with its three local authority partners, Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire County Councils, as well as Powys THB and Powys County Council, to commission a regional advocacy service for children and young people.  The new contract commenced on 1st October 2016 and includes a specific specialist advocacy support service for children and young people who wish to make a representation or complaint regarding their health care which will work alongside specialist Mental Health advocacy, Putting Things Right and CHC support.

 

Other issues relevant to the commissioning and funding of statutory advocacy provision.

Funding for this service is provided via the Women and Children’s Directorate although requests for advocacy support may relate to any part of the health care system.  The Health Board has commissioned a regional service for the past 3 years and use of independent advocacy has been minimal.

 

The impact of Part 10 of the Social Services and Well-being Act 2014.

As noted in Part 10 of the SSWB Act, social care and other professionals play a key role in acting as an advocate on behalf of individuals as part of the exercise of their daily professional roles.  A key part of our regional independent advocacy contract for children and young people will include the service provider working with groups of health care professionals to brief them on the independent advocacy services available, thus improving awareness of all forms of advocacy as a bi-product of these sessions.

 

Identifying other priority areas where progress is needed in respect of advocacy provision.

I can only comment on provision for children and young people up to age 18 years, so I’m unsure how the Health Board is providing independent advocacy for adults, or young adults i.e. those up to age 25 years.  This is also being considered via the Integrated Programme Delivery Board.