Written question WQ98071

The Standards set out in the National Framework for Commissioning Care and Support are intended to rebalance the delivery of services, shifting the focus away from price, towards quality and social value. This means moving towards person centred service and more effective partnership working. By being rooted in their local communities, small local adult care providers are well placed to deliver in partnership.

The Framework encourages local and hyper local integration of services through joint commissioning, including approaches such as Alliance contracting, which emphasise shared goals and collaboration. It also aims to ensure that smaller local providers can continue to play an active role in the care and support market.

Local authorities have a statutory duty within the Social Services and Wellbeing (Wales) Act 2014 to prepare and publish Market Stability Reports (MSR). The Partnership Arrangements and Regulated Services (Market Stability Reports) (Wales) Regulations 2021 require these to be produced collaboratively on a regional footprint through Regional Partnership Boards.

Market Stability Reports are currently being reviewed ahead of publication in 2027. In line with the Welsh Government’s Market Stability Code of Practice 2021 these reports must be informed by meaningful engagement with care and support providers, ensuring that the voice, experience and perspectives of the sector directly shape the assessment of sufficiency and market stability. Additionally, the Social Services and Well being (Wales) Act 2014 (Social Enterprise, Co-operative and Third Sector) (Wales) Regulations 2015 promote early intervention and preventative services which are often commissioned from smaller providers are flexible in their approach to supporting people.