Communication key to improved social care in Wales, report

The Social Services Improvement Agency (SSIA) in Wales has published a new report outlining how information services are being transformed in Wales and will empower people to take greater responsibility for the care they receive.

Providing effective communication is central to the successful delivery of the new Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act and this important piece of work provides a national overview of the work being undertaken to ensure people can access good quality information and advice on the care services that are available to them.

The report highlights that a significant transformation has occurred across Wales in the way that information, advice and assistance services are being delivered which has been driven by the need to support people to make independent and informed decisions on the care services they receive.

Commenting on the new report, Steve Thomas CBE (pictured), Welsh Local Government Association CEO said: “The Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act will transform the social care system in Wales and empower people to shape the care services they receive.  Information, advice and assistance services are hugely important in helping people find out more about what services are available and in making informed choices on what support they feel they need to receive.

“This is the first time that a national overview has been completed on what information advice and assistance services for social care are already in place, and it will serve as a very useful baseline for local councils as they work to improve and broaden these services in the future.”

A full version of the report is available at: http://www.ssiacymru.org.uk/iaa