Cymorth Consultation Event
Housing Bill
Social Services Bill
SPPG implementation
A response from CHC.
Mark Sheridan.
Community Housing Cymru
Cartrefi Cymunedol
Cymorth Consultation Event
• 3 consultations- all in some part
aspirational
• CHC broadly welcomes the initiatives
set out in each of these documents
• As usual the ‘devil is in the detail’
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Community Housing Cymru
Cartrefi Cymunedol
Homes For Wales
CHC welcomes the White paper and will
work with Welsh Government to achieve
the shared vision for the role and
contribution of housing in Wales.
Community Housing Cymru
Cartrefi Cymunedol
Homes For Wales
Specific Comments:-Increasing the supply of Homes;a)
Agree there is a need to enhance the private rented sector.
b)
Welcome the aspiration to end family homelessness by 2019 –
would note though that property supply is not the only issue
contributing to this.
c)
Welcome proposals to bring back empty homes into use. Any
council tax raised for this purpose should be ring fenced for
housing investment.
Community Housing Cymru
Cartrefi Cymunedol
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Homes For Wales
d) Adequate provision should be made for gypsy and traveller sites
and the L.A’s should be responsible for ensuring this and e)
hope the community land trusts will be effective in bringing
funding into housing. Like wise f) co-operative housing.
g) Local housing market assessments- chc proposes the use of the
Independent Planning Advisory Group to ensure comparable
data.
h) Note the decision to tackle tenancy reform in a 2nd Bill.
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Community Housing Cymru
Cartrefi Cymunedol
Homes For Wales
i)
Standard setting- we agree that all tenants in
social housing should have the same good
quality of homes and services.
j) Duty of co-operation on housing association-we
agree this is required.
Other Comments
We need to innovate on financial models and that
needs to include a sustainable rent regime.
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Community Housing Cymru
Cartrefi Cymunedol
Homes For Wales
Bringing the Bills together?
We welcome the recognition of the key role housing plays in
regenerating communities.
CHC welcomes the proposal for housing need to be a strategic
consideration of Local Service Boards
We particularly welcome the opportunity crated for integrating
housing health and social care provision
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Community Housing Cymru
Cartrefi Cymunedol
Social Services (Wales) Bill
Why have a Bill?
Changing Social Context.
Demographic Changes.
Demand and resources.
Consistency.
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Community Housing Cymru
Cartrefi Cymunedol
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Social Services (Wales) Bill
1. Maintaining and enhancing the wellbeing of people in need
2.
A stronger voice and real control for citizens
3.
Strong Direction and Local Accountability
4.
Safeguarding and Protection
5.
Regulation and Inspection
6.
Services
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Community Housing Cymru
Cartrefi Cymunedol
Social Services (Wales) Bill
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Section 1 provides new definitions of ‘well-being’ and ‘people in
need’
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These wider definitions are welcomed as is the duty on Local
Authorities and their partners to maintain and enhance
wellbeing.
•
Focus on the role of Social Services and the Health Servicerole of the third sector is largely ignored in the document.
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Community Housing Cymru
Cartrefi Cymunedol
Social Services (Wales) Bill
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Section two provides for a strengthening of information services
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A statutory right of needs assessment for people of al ages
and- Portability of assessments.
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Proposes to develop further legislation on direct payments.
For those of us working across L.A. boundaries –these moves to
ensure consistency and portability are welcome. They do raise
issues around resources both for the assessment and for
meeting need.
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Community Housing Cymru
Cartrefi Cymunedol
Social Services (Wales) Bill
Section 3 focuses on delivery, including the development of a
national outcomes framework.
We are pleased that the Welsh Ministers will have a duty to
encourage improvement in social care services.
Pooled budgets are also welcomed – though again the role of the
third sector is ignored.
Impressed that Social Services are now going to appoint Competent
Directors.
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Community Housing Cymru
Cartrefi Cymunedol
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Social Services (Wales) Bill
Safe Guarding and protection Boards are explored in section fourand we welcome the move to regional over sight –and the
development of a national Board to provide consistency.
Section five looks at regulation: This includes the training of all
social care staff- which would provide a more level playing field
for ‘quality ‘ providers’ as would the proposal for improved
National Standards
Six includes useful commitments to transition for disabled childrenbut more detail required.
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Community Housing Cymru
Cartrefi Cymunedol
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SPPG Interim Arrangements
CHC have participated in the discussions leading up to the
document and are supportive of the interim arrangements.
In terms of structure and practise – we would expect them to be little
different from any long term arrangement agreed.
The Legal basis of the R.C.C’s does need to be explored furtherbut this should not alter the role they have to play in taking
forward the new SPPG programme.
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Community Housing Cymru
Cartrefi Cymunedol