18.07.23
Cardiff Council is set to endorse a wide-ranging report which sets out plans to develop the social care of the region over the next five years

The Cardiff and Vale Regional Partnership Board’s (RPB) Joint Area Plan 2023-2028 was compiled by Cardiff and Vale of Glamorgan councils along with representatives of the local health board, the ambulance service, plus charities and carers groups.

Its statutory brief is to evaluate work already being done in the care sector and assess how provision will need to change and improve to meet the health and wellbeing needs of the changing population.

It was compiled with the help of hundreds of consultations with professionals and people in the region, including more than 600 responses from the public to an online survey, 35 responses from children and young people, 96 from inmates of Cardiff Prison and 23 focus groups with a total of 132 people.

The resulting report focuses on the needs of people in three life stages:

•  Starting Well – giving every child the best start in life
• Living Well – supporting people to do the things that matter to them, and
• Ageing Well – enabling people to stay independent as they grow older

 In achieving these goals, the RPB has five key principles:

•  Prevention
• Care closer to home
• Inclusion and diversity
• Sustainability, and
• Social value

Cardiff Council’s Scrutiny committee has already examined the report and Cllr Ash Lister, the Cabinet member for children’s services, said it was a comprehensive examination of the care sector and a positive contribution to improving conditions and outcomes for thousands of people.

The area plan ties in well with our Striving for Excellence strategy in Children’s Services, working with colleagues in health and the third sector, to improve our offer in supporting those living with disabilities and a better emotional health and well-being offer.”

His Cabinet colleague, Cllr Norma Mackie, the member for Social Services (Adults), added: “We also welcome the commitment to improving access to annual health checks, including dentistry services, for individuals with learning disabilities, and the plan’s commitment to reduce violence against women, domestic abuse and sexual violence.

“I am also pleased to see that the plan reflects our ambition to support independence and to help older people to age well at home, in line with our Ageing Well strategy.

“Overall, this is an extremely important body of work that has involved a great deal of research and engagement with professionals and people in the care sector. It will help us in the region to ensure that the most vulnerable people in our society receive the very best service.”

Meredith Gardiner, Head of Partnerships and Assurance at Cardiff and Vale Regional Partnership Board (RPB) commented: "The RPB’s Joint Area Plan is the place where partners come together to set out their plans to improve the health and wellbeing of the local population. The strategic direction set out in this plan specifically relates to the joint activities we are committing to as a partnership, building on a long history of working together."

She continued: "This plan is ambitious but realistic and recognises the very real challenges being experienced by local people, our staff and services. We are committed to improving and joining up support and services for healthy lives, wellbeing and independence."

The full report, which has been through the Council’s Cabinet and the full council for local authority agreement, is expected to be approved by the Regional Partnership Board by the end of this month. It is available to read by following this link https://tinyurl.com/mptw3w54