New Social Services Commission Calls On Public To Share Their Views, Wales

Main Category: Public Health
Article Date: 24 Dec 2009 - 0:00 PDT

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br>The Independent Commission on Social Services - the new independent body tasked with looking at the future provision of social services and social care in Wales, is preparing to start its consultation work with the citizens of Wales.

Social services are crucial part of Welsh life and quality services are delivered on a daily basis to the most vulnerable in society at a cost of £1.2 billion a year. It's a service in high demand with over 150,000 people a year using these services and 70,000 people devoting their lives to meeting these needs. However service is not as it should be in all places at all times which is why the Welsh Assembly Government has established the Independent Commission on Social Services.

Effective from December 2009, the Commission, chaired by Professor Geoffrey Pearson, will consider the provision of social services and social care over the next decade in Wales and how the Assembly Government can:

• further support the development of professional practice
• build an inclusive social service based on the contribution of all individuals and organisations who work in social care
• improve the collaboration between social services and other key services
• ensure better integrated social services to meet the needs of all society in the most effective way

In addition, the Commission will need to take into account the impact of changing public expectations, demographic changes, a range of resource scenarios to ensure a sustainable service and all within the context of the current public consultation into the Green Paper on Paying for Care.

The Commission's work will begin with an opportunity for all parties likely to be affected by its recommendations including carers and those currently using social services to give their views in a Call for Evidence process.

Promoting the work of the Commission, Professor Geoffrey Pearson said: "The establishment of the Independent Commission on Social Services is a unique opportunity for all of us to contribute to shape the direction of social services in Wales for the next decade. Social services are a crucially important service to the people of Wales and the work of this Commission aims to build on the good practice already established here.

"We are opening up various communication channels so that your views can be heard and I would encourage all interested parties to use this opportunity to help us shape the future of social services in Wales. There are many excellent projects and services ongoing in Wales and I want to make sure that we hear and learn about them all. We want to build on the good practices that already exist in Wales not reinvent the wheel."

The evidence submission should be sent by email to socialservicescommission@wales.gsi.gov.uk and in hard copy format to David Rich, Secretary, Independent Commission on Social Services in Wales, 4th Floor Crown Buildings, Cathays Park, Cardiff CF10 3NQ.

The Commission will report on its finding to the Deputy Minister for Social Services in November 2010.

Source
Welsh Assembly Government

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