Social Care News

Paying for social care in Wales: reform is still our plan - Deputy Social Services Minister

Gwenda Thomas, the Deputy Minister for Social Services, has said she is committed to reforming how social care services are paid for in Wales.

In a statement issued today (March 20) the Minister said that she was progressing her plans as far as possible - bearing in mind that similar reform plans in England have not yet been finalised.

In her initial statement in March 2013, Ms Thomas she set out her aim of delivering a fairer and less complex system of paying for care than the present arrangements, and which is affordable and sustainable in the longer term.

Ms Thomas said in her statement: "Instrumental in achieving this is our Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Bill.

"As I indicated last year I want reform in Wales to be tailored to our particular circumstances. There are important differences in key aspects relating to paying for care between England and Wales which mean that the reform planned in England is not necessarily the reform that is appropriate in Wales. For example in relation to demography, incidence of disability, personal wealth, property values and ownership, and a range of other factors. We also need to recognise the distinctive differences in values and principles regarding public service provision we hold dear, as enshrined in the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Bill," she said.

Ms Thomas also announced in her statement that she has awarded a contract to an independent research study on the future of paying for care in Wales.

The study, being undertaken by LE Wales, a leading economics consultancy specialist in public policy economics, is due to be completed by September 2014.

• Read the Minister's statement in full here