Securing Strong Partnerships in Care
23 February 2009
The Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA), ADSS Cymru, Care Forum Wales, The Registered Nursing Home Association and the United Kingdom Home Care Association have, for the first time, joined forces to ensure a more consistent and cost effective approach to addressing the enormous demands and challenges facing the social care sector over the next 10 years.
Today, the five partners have signed a unique Memorandum of Understanding for Social services in Wales at an event attended by Gwenda Thomas, AM, Deputy Minister for Social Services.
Cllr John Dixon (Cardiff), WLGA Deputy Social Services Spokesperson said:
“The statement is a unique partnership between the social care providers and commissioners in Wales. It signals a commitment by all the partners to work together to find improved, efficient and consistent ways to best deliver social care services. For the first time we have key principles for working in partnership, shared principles and proposed joint action.”
In particular, this collaboration is aimed at delivering a more strategic and cost effective approach to service commissioning and contacting arrangements to ensure that services are planned and delivered in a way that best meets people’s individual needs, as well as being financially sustainable for the service providers. With the support of the Care Council for Wales, it is also aimed at supporting one of social services’ biggest assets - its workforce by identifying where continuous development and staff training is needed.”
Stewart Greenwell, President, ADSS Cymru said:
“ADSS Cymru welcomes its partnership with Care Forum Wales, RNHA, UKHCA and WLGA in developing a mutual understanding of the contribution that we can all make to planning for the needs of vulnerable people in Wales. Those organisations that provide services have a real part to play in developing services for the future for older people, people with learning disabilities and people with mental health problems. We have moved past the point of competition between the public and private sectors, to a position where we can work together successfully in the interests of people whose needs are changing and who need services that can change to meet those needs.”
Mario Kreft, Chief Executive, Care Forum Wales, said:
“This is one of the most important and exciting developments within the social care sector in Wales for many years and I am delighted that Care Forum Wales has been able to play an integral role in making it a reality. As a result of this agreement, we will be able to continue to drive up standards and improve the quality of life for the people in our care at a time of rapidly growing demand. By working together, we will be able to achieve higher quality services with better trained staff while, at the same time, providing the best value for money. This is going to be good for everyone.”
Lesley Rimmer, Chief Executive, United Kingdom Home Care Association said:
“UKHCA is delighted to support the Memorandum of Understanding and welcomes it as a very positive step towards genuine partnership and mutual understanding between commissioners and providers of care services. Such services are vital to the lives of the growing number of older people in particular who often wish to be cared for at home”
Emlyn Davies, Director, Registered Nursing Homes Association (RHNA) Wales said:
“The Registered Nursing Home Association (RNHA) welcomes the creation of this Memorandum of Understanding between providers of social care and commissioners of social care in Wales. We have long promoted the value of shared dialogue amongst those with the common interest of providing care for older people, having set up a similar local framework in Swansea in 2007. We are particularly pleased that agreement has now been reached at the highest level within Wales, which can only benefit the users of nursing home care.
Today’s launch was also attended by a number of other senior professionals from across the social care sector, including: Shokat Babul – Chairman, Care Forum Wales, Sanjiv Joshi - Chairman, RNHA Wales, Rhian Huws Williams - Chief Executive, Care Council for Wales and Hugh Gardner - Senior Welsh Assembly Government official.
To download a copy of Securing Strong Partnerships in Care please visit: www.wlga.gov.uk or www.adsscymru.org
To view the Memorandum of Understanding please click here