Health and Social Care Committee

Consultation on terms of reference for inquiry into residential care for older people

RC22 ToR – Hafod Care Association

Dear Colleague,

Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the terms of reference that are suggested to inform the inquiry into residential care for older people in Wales.

The suggestions made appear to cover a broad spectrum of matters; from the choices people make to enter a residential care setting; the effectiveness of this type of service at meeting diversity of need; to the confidence and public trust in the viability of these service models.

As an organisation with a proportionate stake in current models of residential care, but with the drive and enthusiasm to develop viable alternatives we are pleased that you will be acknowledging the work being undertaken by organisations such as ourselves in “new and emerging models of care provision”. We would be pleased to see this area of inquiry highlighted to demonstrate the work being undertaken outside of extra care models to support national policy objectives in supporting the independence agenda, prevention or escalation of declining health and well-being amongst older people, and enabling and rehabilitation options.

The cost of caring for an ageing population in Wales and the reduction in public funding should form a significant part of your investigations to determine the link between cost and quality of care within the sector.

Current models of residential care provision are very well regulated with both Local Authority and Civil bodies duplicating scrutiny. Whilst we would champion the work done to ensure practice and standards of care are maintained, improved and developed to support vulnerable people we would comment on the cost and effectiveness of these roles and ask if the funding for this scrutiny be better directed.

It would be our pleasure to extend to you the opportunity of directly accessing our residential care provision, the people who are served by what we do (subject to their agreement) and the people who provide these service on the frontline. We would also be happy to discuss further with you our vision and models for sustainable care settings.

Kind regards

Andrew

Andrew Derrick

Hafod Care Association Ltd

Head of Business & Service Development