What action has the Welsh Government taken to ensure that individuals transitioning from the six week period of free social care to paying a weekly client contribution are provided with a financial assessment?
The Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 makes provisions for care and support reablement services. Under the Act, local authorities are responsible for the care and support they provide directly to, or commission for, a person assessed with an eligible need. Under regulations in place under the Act, local authorities cannot charge for the first six weeks of a reablement period. During this time local authorities should consider with the person any longer term care and support needs they may have and how they could be best met. This process should include providing the person with information about the financial assessment process and charging regime. Where a local authority decides to impose a charge for the care and support it arranges for a person, a financial assessment must be completed in line with the requirements set out in regulations and a charge determined that is appropriate for their care needs and specific financial circumstances. An authority cannot apply a charge without a financial assessment being completed.