An independent report into how social care and services should be delivered in Wales has recommended that users should have much more personalised services.
The report, entitled “From Vision to Action”, was commissioned by Gwenda Thomas AM, Deputy Minister for Social Services and highlights “striking variations” in the level of services users can currently expect in different parts of the country.
Prof Geoffrey Pearson, who chaired the “From Vision to Action” Commission, says that the current system of planning, commissioning, and delivering services across 22 local authorities is not sustainable.
He added that people should be encouraged to take more responsibility for their health, well-being, and the kind of care they needed to receive.
Prof Pearson told the BBC: “Despite the progress that has been made in recent times, there remain striking variations in what service users can expect in different parts of the country.
“Furthermore, over time, we can expect a new generation of service users who will be articulate, well-informed, have a greater sense of being ‘customers’ and who will demand high-quality services.
“We found a large measure of agreement that the present arrangements for the planning, commissioning and delivery of services across 22 local authorities are not sustainable.”
Commenting on the report Bill Walden-Jones, Chief Executive of the Welsh mental health charity Hafal, said mental health service users would welcome Professor Pearson’s recommendation for personalised services.
He said: “Hafal supports the principle of self-directed support. We want service users to have the right to control how resources are allocated and play a central role in the design and delivery of their care so services reflect what individuals actually want, based on their own needs and preferences.
“Unfortunately Wales is some way behind adopting the ‘personalisation’ agenda. I hope this report helps ensure that personalised services become the norm rather than the exception. This is something Hafal’s members would like to see.”
To download “From Vision to Action” please visit: http://www.icssw.org/?lang=en
To read Gwenda Thomas’ and First Minister Carwyn Jones’ views on the report please visit: http://wales.gov.uk/newsroom/healthandsocialcare/2010/socialservices/?lang=en