Wales Carers Alliance

Consultation- Proposed Domiciliary LCO Committee- The National Assembly for Wales (Legislative Competence Order) (no.4) order 2008 relating to charging for Non-Residential Social Care (Domiciliary Care)

The following reflects the views of Wales Carers Alliance and is submitted by the chair Angela Roberts Director Crossroads Wales.

1. What are your views on the general principle that legislative competence in the area identified in Matter 15.9 be conferred on the Assembly?

The general principle that the Assembly should have the powers to deal with the current charging system, which varies across each local authority and is therefore not equitable, is agreed, particularly where this enables the Assembly to deliver its agreed strategies, such as regional commissioning plans.

2. What are your views on the terms of the proposed Order e.g. are they too narrowly or broadly drawn?

Wales Carers Alliance would welcome the flexibility to set the level of charging at nil for carers, given that they are providing personal care in the community 24/7 free of charge, saving health and social care in excess of an estimated £87 billion per annum.

There is potential conflict where the Assembly’s powers would only affect services provided by or purchased by Local Authorities, when increasingly many services are purchased privately directly with providers.

The impact on workforce development and service delivery planning of any such confusion needs to be considered.

3. Do you consider that the excepted matters would hinder the effectiveness of any future proposed Measures brought forward under Matter 15.9? If so please explain why.

On current information Wales Carers Alliance do not feel that the excepted matters would hinder any future proposed Measures.