Users of Social Services are to be placed at the heart of a new system in Wales, the Deputy Minister for Social Services and Children has announced.
A ‘citizen panel’ will be created by the Welsh Government to give users and carers involved in Social Services a voice in strategic decisions taken at an all-Wales level.
The announcement was made by Deputy Minister Gwenda Thomas during a major Social Services conference in Llandudno.
She said: “The most important change we can make is to give users and carers a way to influence the really big decisions taken at an all-Wales level. In 2011 I set up a Partnership Forum which brings all the major stakeholders in social services together. Now the forum and I will be able to listen to the experiences and views of the most important people, the citizens who rely on these services every day.”
The Deputy Minister also updated conference delegates on the forthcoming Social Services (Wales) Bill.
She said: “I am grateful for the large number of responses to our recent consultation on the forthcoming Social Services (Wales) Bill. This is a significant achievement that indicates how much people value social services. The responses have given us a lot to think about and to ensure we get this vital piece of legislation right it has been agreed the Bill will be introduced to the National Assembly at the beginning of 2013. We must fully consider the important issues raised.
“We will publish a detailed response next month, but we have decided not to include the proposals for regulation and inspection of social care services and workforce which had originally planned to be included in the Bill. This will now be the basis of a White Paper next year, setting out proposals for a separate Bill on regulation.”