5. What discussions has the Minister had with the Minister for Health and Social Services regarding the financial pressures on local authorities' children and adult social services? OQ57179

In September, we announced £40 million of additional funding to implement the social care recovery framework. I've also announced an additional £20 million for local authorities so far this year to manage the demand for children's services, and I'm open to further allocations this financial year.

Thank you, Minister, for your answer. In Powys, and indeed across Wales, there are considerable pressures, of course, on both children and adult social services, not only with an increased referral rate, but also with the presentation of more complex cases as well. When I raised this issue with the relevant cabinet member of Powys County Council, they pointed out that referrals had doubled compared to pre-pandemic times, for all the reasons that I'm sure will be familiar. What that discussion with that cabinet member was about was in regard to how is there a solution, how do we come about the solution. It is with additional funding, because there needs to be a retention of existing staff that are currently leaving and there needs to be higher pay for those staff as well. These are some of the issues being talked about. The solution also is not just one-off grants, of course, because if that is the case then those local authorities can't then offer a higher wage packet or can't retain more staff. So, I wonder, Minister, if you could comment on what I've said and outline any additional further support that you'll be providing to local authorities to tackle this specific issue.

Thank you very much. I don't think that I would disagree with what you've said in terms of the severe pressure on social services, and particularly in regard to children's services. I want to reassure you that my officials are currently working with local government to identify where those pressure points are and where additional funding in this financial year can be of use, bearing in mind that point you made about the number of children coming forward with referrals increasing, but also the complexity for all the reasons that we would understand in terms of the last couple of years that they've been through. So, that additional funding is already there this year, but I'm more than happy to look for more should it be required. Those discussions are ongoing at the moment.

And then of course, retaining staff within the social care sector is absolutely paramount. Clearly, they have had a really, really hard couple of years as well in terms of the work that they've been doing, supporting some of the most vulnerable people in society, and our commitment to pay the real living wage is a really important one, as are other ways to look at recognising and supporting social care workers. For example, they are sometimes asked to pay for some things that they need for their job; we need to look at that to see if there's more that we can be doing in those areas. The Minister for Health and Social Services and the Deputy Minister for Social Services meet every week now with the Welsh Local Government Association spokesperson and leader to explore what more we can be doing to support the social care sector.