Written question WQ90151

Local Authorities are responsible for setting fee rates for the services that they put in place to meet the care and support needs of their local populations. These services are delivered through internal provision, private or third sector providers. Local Authorities work together, alongside providers utilising the Let’s Agree to Agree toolkit to agree the cost of residential and nursing care for older people in Wales. Each Local Authority agree their own fee rates through their governance structures. Local Authorities also commission and procure these services in line with their corporate standing orders.

Through our Rebalancing Care and Support Programme we are establishing a National Framework for Commissioning Care and Support services. This legislative framework sets out principles and standards for commissioning practices and will be established through a statutory Code of Practice, this will apply to the commissioning of care and support services by Local Authorities, Local Health Boards and NHS Trusts.

The content of the National Framework has been co-produced by members of a National Technical Group including Local Authority commissioners and provider representatives. We have also consulted widely with the sector on the National Framework during the summary of 2023. The principles and standards for commissioning practice aim to reduce complexity and rebalance commissioning to focus on quality and outcomes. The development of the National Framework is an important part of our journey towards a National Care and Support Service and provides some of the necessary foundations for its implementation.

Implementation of the National Framework will include putting in place a national toolkit of good practice documents to support commissioners and training and awareness support for commissioners to be able to work in line with the Code of Practice.

The social care sector is very important, delivering care to thousands of people across Wales each day. The principles and standards in the Statutory Code of Practice focusses on ‘what matters’ to people and will put people at the heart of commissioning practice.