Local government is best placed to commission the full range of social service functions that the people of Wales want and need, as well as improve services so that they are fit for the future. However, council leaders recognize that the current system must radically change to deal with the huge financial and service pressures that councils’ face which will involve key elements of social care being delivered at a national and regional level.
This is the key message contained in yesterday’s Welsh Assembly Government report: Sustainable Social Services for Wales: A Framework for Action and which is firmly endorsed by senior local government politicians in Wales.
The report calls for getting rid of the current confusing infrastructure of partnerships and placing the focus firmly on users. It also calls for social services providers to commission and deliver services via a much simpler approach so that services are delivered more efficiently and effectively leading to improved outcomes and a better quality of social care experience.
Responding to these challenges, Cllr Meryl Gravell (Carmarthenshire), WLGA Social Services spokesperson said:
“We are committed to delivering a prioritised programme of change that will ensure services in the future respond to the challenges of our society. Today’s report speaks of the dangers of doing things 22 ways and we fully recognize this. Subsequently, local government is putting together proposals to work across council boundaries which in effect is seeing local government reorganization happening in functions not structures.
“The report of the Independent Commission: ‘From Vision to Action’ outlined the significant social services progress made in recent years and we are determined to build on that progress by future proofing our system to ensure it can meet the challenges ahead. Social services teams continue to achieve significant improvements in their systems to ensure that the most vulnerable people in their communities receive the help and support they need.”
Responding to one of the specific action points outlined in the report –
Integrated Family Support Teams, Cllr Gravell added:
“We welcome this model and recognise its potential as an effective model for service delivery in the future. However, whilst local authorities are fully supportive of this model, our capacity to roll it out effectively across Wales, both in terms of the skill and finance needed to support it needs clarity by the Welsh Assembly Government.”
