What research has been commissioned by the Welsh Government to understand the financial and operational impacts of providing social care free at the point of need, as per the recommendation of the expert group on establishing a national care and support service for Wales?
In line with the Expert Group’s recommendations, and as our Initial Implementation Plan sets out, we will be conducting research into how best we can move towards a charging regime where most non-residential care is delivered free at the point of need. It will look to understand the options around paying for care, as well as the financial and operational impacts of care which is free at the point of need.
This research will address the following expert group recommendation:
- The Group recommends that as a first step towards care which is free at the point of need, the Welsh Government should move towards a charging regime where most non-residential care is delivered free in a non-residential setting.
- Recognising the competing priorities for investment (most significantly, more adequate remuneration of the social care workforce) the Expert Group suggests adopting a phased approach to charging reforms.
- Welsh Government should move towards a charging regime where care costs (excluding accommodation costs) are delivered free in a residential setting. However, recognising the potential competing investment priorities already discussed above, this move may need to be phased.
Our aim remains for this research to be completed before March 2026.