What steps is the Welsh Government taking to review and update the duty on the NHS in Wales to support carers, so as to ensure a more systematic approach to improve well-being through access to respite?
NHS responsibilities and the need for a systematic approach to provision of services and support for carers, working with local authorities and other partners to ensure the wellbeing outcomes for unpaid carers, is set out in the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014.
To help us understand the impact of the 2014 Act we commissioned a formal evaluation. I published a Written Statement on 9 February providing an update: https://gov.wales/written-statement-publication-evaluation-social-services-and-well-being-wales-act-2014-february
This is a significant piece of work. Understanding the significant impact that Covid-19 has had, and continues to have on our social care provision across Wales is vital. The evaluation is already providing crucial evidence of what has worked well with regard to the implementation of the Act, and what work needs to continue.
I expect the NHS and local authorities to meet their duties. To assist them the Welsh Government has provided £1m Carers funding to health boards – in 2020-21 and 2021-22 – for work with their carers’ partnerships. This funding supports projects helping carers, including young carers across Wales.
The Integrated Care Fund (ICF) is another important source of support for unpaid carers and they continue to be identified as one of the priority groups within the guidance for Regional Partnership Boards (RPBs). In 2021-22, we are investing a further £89m revenue funding in the ICF. It is important carers’ own well-being needs are met and therefore, the ICF provides direct support for carers, such as opportunities for respite and activities to help improve carers’ own well-being. In 2019-20, RPB-direct spend on carers amounted to some £10.2m.
We identified respite and short breaks as a key aspect of our Strategy for Unpaid Carers, which was published on 23 March and includes our national priority to support carers to have a life alongside their caring responsibilities. On 7 June, I announced £3m to support emergency respite provision and the development of a short breaks fund. Further detail was set out in my oral statement on 8 June: https://record.assembly.wales/Plenary/12305#A65985