Julie Morgan: I've really enjoyed listening to this debate today and, as you know, we're very happy to accept the majority of the committee's recommendations. The report rightly has a clear focus on evaluating and monitoring the impact of the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014, and placing the voice and experiences of service users at the heart of the system. As well as the evaluation studies...
Julie Morgan: Thank you. I welcome the opportunity to reply to this important debate.
Julie Morgan: I ask Members to support the motion.
Julie Morgan: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. I move the motion.
Julie Morgan: The purpose of these regulations is twofold. Firstly, to revoke the limited coronavirus-related amendments made to requirements on providers of certain regulated services, which came into force in June 2020. These aimed to streamline the establishment and support provision of emergency social care for adults, should this be needed, due to the spread of coronavirus. They also simplified...
Julie Morgan: Diolch. Thank you very much for those comments and question. I really welcome the commitment to childcare in Wales, and I'm very pleased that we've been able to take these steps forward. I absolutely agree that childcare is a lifeline for families, for all families, and for struggling families in particular it's a huge boost. I think we are ambitious. The co-operation agreement says that we...
Julie Morgan: Thank you very much for that contribution. Well, you said one positive thing at the beginning—that you were pleased to see me and Siân visiting the cylch meithrin in north Wales, and I’d like to say that we had a very good visit and it was very pleasant and very stimulating and I think shows what we're able to do to work with children. I don’t think, probably, the rest of the points...
Julie Morgan: I would ask the Senedd to join me in welcoming this investment in supporting our children and young people. Thank you.
Julie Morgan: Reflecting the importance of the early years, our programme for government commits us to continuing our support for our flagship Flying Start programme. Working with our colleagues in Plaid Cymru as part of the co-operation agreement, we have extended our commitment to deliver a phased expansion of early years provision to include all two-year-olds, with a particular emphasis on strengthening...
Julie Morgan: Thank you, Dirprwy Llywydd, and thank you for the opportunity to come here today to talk to Members about our plans to expand early years provision for two-year-olds across Wales.
Julie Morgan: The Welsh Government is committed to ensuring that every child in Wales has the best start in life. The early years are vitally important in a child's life, providing formative opportunities and setting the course for longer term learning and development. Investment in early years care and education, as set out in our vision for an integrated early childhood education and care system, is key...
Julie Morgan: Thank you very much, Vikki Howells, for that question. I know how diligently you've pursued this issue. A local authority family information service can inform parents and carers about the availability and location of play opportunities, and they'll be also able to signpost parents and carers to the play team, who are best placed to assess their needs. Many local councils in Wales have...
Julie Morgan: I thank Peter Fox very much for that question. I am aware of Scope, and I've had a letter from Scope as well. Welsh Government officials have met with Scope officials already twice this year. I can absolutely assure you of our continuing commitment to provide opportunities for all children and young people to play in safety and to support improved access to play for disabled children. Both...
Julie Morgan: Access to high-quality play opportunities is critical for the social, emotional and physical development of all children. I am proud that Wales was the first country to legislate, guaranteeing children's right to play by ensuring local authorities secure sufficient opportunities, via the play sufficiency duty.
Julie Morgan: Discharge guidance was put in place at the start of the pandemic and updated throughout to reflect latest developments and service pressures. It incorporates 'discharge to recover then assess' pathways introduced during the pandemic. We are working collaboratively with the NHS to re-establish formal discharge reporting, paused during the pandemic.
Julie Morgan: Thank you, Llywydd. I move the motion.
Julie Morgan: The statutory instrument before you today amends the existing regulations under the Regulation and Inspection of Social Care (Wales) Act 2016 and regulations that flow from that Act. These amending regulations are a further step towards realising our goal to professionalise the social care workforce, to continuing to raise the quality of care and to ensure that workers get the support and...
Julie Morgan: I thank Heledd Fychan for that question. In terms of a review, I think our position has been laid out by the First Minister, as he did in First Minister's questions. But, as I've said, we're looking at the result of the practice review later on this year and at what Care Inspectorate Wales says about the social services, and we will see if there are any wider lessons that we need to learn...
Julie Morgan: Thank you, Gareth Davies, for that question. I'd just like to correct him, I didn't say we had a good rate of children in care. I think he must have misheard that. I said we had a good rate of listening to children. We've got a good record of listening to children. And in fact, the Welsh Government has been working very hard over the last three years to try to bring down the number of...
Julie Morgan: Thank you very much, Jane Dodds, for that question. I know how great a concern you have about these issues, and of course it is so distressing to hear about Logan and to hear about the care-experienced young people who were featured last night on the documentary. In terms of an independent inquiry with regard to Logan, I'm sure the Member is aware that there will be a child practice review...
