Diolch. I updated Members of the Senedd on our 'Rebalancing Care and Support' White Paper consultation on 9 February. The White Paper set out proposals for improving social care arrangements to better enable the sector to achieve the vision set out in the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014. The 12-week consultation closed on 6 April. A summary of the consultation responses has now been published on the Welsh Government website.

So, I'd like to take this opportunity to put on record my personal thanks to everyone who responded to the consultation. This summary of responses report provides an overview of the rich and considerable variety of views and opinions that were provided in over 150 responses. The majority of respondents recognised the challenges set out in the case for change. They agreed on the proposals for a simplified, outcome-based system, focused on quality and social value, led strategically and not reactively, and rooted in partnership and integrated working.

An overwhelming majority thought that the complexity in the sector gets in the way of service improvement. A significant proportion of responses agreed that commissioning practices are disproportionately focused on procurement. For these reasons, there was broad support for a national framework for care and support and an increased focus on commissioning by quality, outcomes, rights and well-being. Respondents felt that a national framework could reduce complexity and duplication. Many thought the framework could also encourage and facilitate integration and joint commissioning between health and social services. Furthermore, responses described an important opportunity to strengthen partnerships between commissioners, communities and providers to co-design imaginative local solutions in order to deliver the best outcomes for individuals while ensuring value for money.

Most respondents thought that the national office should consolidate existing national groups where there is added value, such as to reduce duplication, pool resource and to enable greater effectiveness and efficiency. Views on the location of the national office varied. Most local government responses did not support structural change, while others felt that a national office needs to be independent of Government in order to hold partners to account and build relationships with the market.

In relation to regional partnership boards, over half of responses thought that they were limited by their design and structure. The majority of these respondents were from the third sector, independent sector and from citizens. There were calls for a formal review of regional partnership boards' structures and membership as part of any future reform. The majority of statutory bodies thought legislative powers were sufficient to enable regional partnership boards to undertake their existing responsibilities. These responses emphasised that partnerships are about trust and relationships, and that partners need to work together to deliver the necessary change. Many examples were provided from all sectors about how regional partnership boards could be strengthened further, either in their current format or as legal entities.

We know that partners need to work together at a number of levels to meet people’s needs. The third sector were clear that health and social care systems remain difficult to navigate for individuals. Building on the strong partnership working that was demonstrated during the COVID pandemic, I want to see effective partnerships thrive at cluster, local authority, regional and at a national level.

In relation to the Welsh language, a number of responses cited difficulties in providing Welsh language services at a local level, and the challenges regional partnership boards currently face in relation to existing Welsh language duties. There was a consensus that the Welsh language must be at the core of future policy development, and that if a new body is established, then it should be required to comply with the Welsh language standards.

Respondents expressed a clear and overwhelming commitment to work with Welsh Government to further develop these policy proposals. In line with our programme for government, I am committed to introducing a national framework for care and support and to strengthen partnerships to deliver for the people of Wales. How we do that will be informed both by the consultation feedback and through further engagement with the sector.

It is important to look to the future and how we build back a fairer system. Our White Paper proposals are a blueprint for a stronger, more balanced, care and support sector. They are about long-term solutions to enhance our system and ensure sustainable social services. I hope all Members of the Senedd will continue to encourage all those with an interest to work together to achieve our vision of securing well-being for people who need care and support and carers who need support. Diolch yn fawr.