Strengthening regional leadership to deliver a transformational change in social care
26 Jun 2014 04:14 PM
National leadership arrangements for social
services in Wales are to be replicated at a regional level to help deliver a
transformational change in social care and ensure people who use services and
their carers are at the centre of changes, Deputy Minister for Social Services,
Gwenda Thomas announced yesterday.
The
new regional leadership model will be based on the existing Local Health Board
footprint.
The
Welsh Government is making £1.5m available in this financial year, via
the Sustainable Social Services – Delivering Transformation grant, to
local government to support implementation of the Sustainable Social Services
agenda.
The
Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 will introduce the biggest
change in the way social care services are delivered in Wales for more than 60
years. The Welsh Government intends for the Act to be implemented and the new
system of social care to be operational from April 2016.
Gwenda Thomas said:
“Our ability to deliver transformation for people
is dependent on our national and regional leadership, with a commitment to
working together as full partners across local government, health, the third
and private sectors. Bringing people around that table too as full
partners must be a priority for us.
“We have already demonstrated how we can break
down barriers, innovate and drive change through our national leadership
arrangements. Together we are able to focus on our key priorities and
ensure that we drive forward integration across health and social
services.
“I now want to see those successful arrangements
replicated at regional level. Specifically, I want to see each region operating
a Partnership Forum and Leadership Group model from this year, and a
Citizen’s Panel from 2015-16.
“This will mean bringing local government, health,
third and private sectors together. It signals the change we must make,
and demonstrates our determination to pick up the pace and scale and drive the
transformation that is needed. I am grateful to local government that they will
lead this approach recognising that local government is the home of social
services.
“The Delivering Transformation grant will help
support this in the first instance but this must be a key and ongoing local
government priority.”
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