Written question WQ97741
- Asked by
- Andrew RT DaviesConservative
- To be answered by
- Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care
- Tabled
- Due
- Answered
- Time to answer
- 6 days
Question
What plans does the Cabinet Secretary have to ensure that unpaid carers assessments will be required to include contingency care arrangements for their patients in the event of an emergency?
Answer
Answered by Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care
Under the Social Services and Wellbeing Act 2014 a carer’s needs assessment must include the carer’s ability and willingness to continue caring, what matters to the carer and the outcomes they want to achieve and the impact of caring on their well-being and participation in work, education, or leisure.
The assessments of people with care and support needs, referred to in the question as ‘patients’, must consider the needs of the individual if the unpaid carer was not available. This is outlined in Part 3 of the Code of Practice for Assessing Needs.
The Part 4 Code of Practice for Meeting Needs requires local authorities to prepare care and support plans that include arrangements for emergencies or changes in circumstances for people with care and support needs.
The Code sets out requirements for plans to include clear actions, roles, and responsibilities, and to be reviewed promptly if circumstances change. This framework ensures that arrangements can be adapted to maintain continuity of care and protect well-being in the event of an emergency.