New review to look at child deaths in Wales

Deputy Minister for Social Services, Gwenda Thomas, today (Thursday, 12 June) announced that the Welsh Assembly Government will be funding an all-Wales pilot to review child deaths at a CEMACH (Confidential Enquiry into Maternal and Child Health) conference held at Cardiff.

Developed from and building upon the CEMACH model that analysed child deaths in a number of selected areas for one year it is anticipated that a Wales-wide pilot – focusing on child suicides - will identify avoidable factors and contributors to child deaths.

There are approximately 300 child deaths every year in Wales – of which almost half are babies under 28 days of age.

Speaking at the conference earlier today, Deputy Minister for Social Services, Gwenda Thomas, said;

“The Assembly Government is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children.

“ We need to look at what can be done by local authorities, the NHS and other agencies to address these issues at a local level as well as what the Welsh Assembly Government might do at a national level.

“I am confident that an all-Wales pilot for Child Death reviews will identify avoidable factors that contribute to child deaths and consequently help us to eliminate or reduce them as far as possible.”

According to the findings of the CEMACH “Why Children Die” report that was presented to stakeholders earlier today more that half of the deaths of children over the age of 28 days may have been avoidable or potentially avoidable.

Said Gwenda Thomas; “The CEMACH report provides us with analysis of child deaths in one year and in a number of selected areas giving us a snapshot of the position at one point in time.”

“By undertaking further work and analysis we can develop effective policies to address unexpected child deaths.”

An unexpected death is defined as the death of a child that was not anticipated as a significant possibility 24 hours before the death, or where there was a similarly unexpected collapse leading to or precipitating the events that led to the death.

Subject to an assessment of the pilot, the aim would be to introduce a full Child Death Review scheme from 1 April 2010, following consultation with stakeholders on any proposed regulations and guidance.

Press Release: Voluntary organisations benefit from £13 million festive funding boost

Voluntary organisations across Wales in the health and social care sector are set to benefit from a bumper Christmas package of over £13 million in grant funding over the next 3 years, the Deputy Minister for Social Services Gwenda Thomas announced today (Wednesday, 19 December).

The grants will go to a range of organisations in the physical and/or sensory disabilities, learning disabilities, mental health, carers and older people sectors.

Said Gwenda Thomas: “The awarding of these three year grants is a demonstration of our continuing commitment to the voluntary sector.”

“ This latest round of three year funding awards will give these organisations the financial certainty they need to enable them to effectively plan ahead.

“ All Wales voluntary organisations within health and social care provide a valuable contribution to both helping inform and shape our policies and providing ongoing help, advice and support to some of the most vulnerable people in our society.

“ This £13 million in funding will ensure this important work continues over the next three years”.The grant will be made available on a three-year basis from April 2008.

For Further Information, click here: http://new.wales.gov.uk/news/presreleasearchive/1876092/?lang=en

Western Mail Article: A merry Christmas for everyone in Wales

Look out for each other, says Deputy Minister for Social Services, Gwenda Thomas

For most of us the festive season is a happy time for families to gather around the Christmas tree. But for some of the more vulnerable people in our community – the children and older people who need care and support – Christmas can unfortunately be the hardest and loneliest time of year.

That is why it’s important that as a caring society we help support and keep an eye on these vulnerable groups not only during Christmas but throughout the year.

It’s also important that as an Assembly Government we help support vulnerable groups which is why we have made several One Wales commitments that echo this thinking.

Improving the lives of older people is one of the key aims of the Welsh Assembly Government. To reflect this commitment we will be shortly announcing in the new year the appointment of the first ever champion for older people.

The Commissioner for Older People will not only benefit older people but also sets a standard for other parts of the UK, Europe and the world to follow.

The Commissioner will ensure that the interests of older people in Wales, who are aged 60 or more, are safeguarded and promoted.

As an ambassador and authority on older people’s issues, the Commissioner will speak up on behalf of older people and help them to resolve problems when things go wrong.

We will make an announcement about the appointment of the Commissioner early in the new year.

I am delighted Wales is setting an example and that this adds to the work already started through the Welsh Assembly Government’s 10-year action plan to deal with things that matter most in the lives of older people in Wales.

Demographics are changing and by 2026 about 29% of people in Wales will be over 60 years old. This appointment will mean that older people are put at the centre of all policy making.

To complement the work of the Older People’s Commissioner we will shortly be announcing the appointment of the new Children’s Commissioner to make sure that the children and young people of Wales have a stronger voice.

To further strengthen the voice of children we sought extra powers over the summer to improve the welfare of children and young people in Wales.

Vulnerable children and tackling child poverty are central to the Assembly Government’s programme for children and young people.

Although we have made good progress in recent years, with poverty rates for children in Wales now below the UK average for the first time, we are not complacent. There are still some 28% of children in Wales living in poverty.

Assembly Government budgets have provided increased investment in children, especially in the early years and a lot has been done through our anti-poverty programmes like Cymorth and Communities First. This year will see the continued roll-out of Flying Start, which is targeted at the 0-3 age group in the most deprived communities in Wales . About £46m is being made available between 2006 and 2008 to support disadvantaged children in their early years, £15m in 2006-7 and £31m in 2007-8.

There are 4,800 children in local authority care in Wales and some 1,600 young people who have left care. The Assembly Government and local authorities, as corporate parents, have a unique responsibility to ensure that the experience of children in care is positive and they get the right opportunities and support so that when they leave care they have the right skills and confidence to allow them to live independent lives as responsible adults.

I am pleased that the Vulnerable Children and Child Poverty Legislative Competence Order (LCO) that we introduced over the summer aims to allow the Assembly to make a real improvement in their lives.

The LCO aims to empower the Assembly to implement changes in the law relating to the welfare of children and young people that could see free child care for two-year-olds in greatest need and top up payments to Child Trust Fund accounts of children in Wales, with more for those living in poverty.

We issued another LCO at the end of last month that sought further powers for the Assembly to secure a fairer deal for vulnerable people who need care in their homes across Wales.

The charging for home care and other non-residential social services is currently at the discretion of individual local authorities. This has resulted in significant variations in charging policies for similar services across Wales.

Under the current system weekly charges for a similar service can range from a maximum of £16.20 to £185.

This new LCO – Charging for Non-Residential Social Care (Domiciliary Care) – aims to enable the Assembly Government to legislate against such disparity and help produce a fairer and more consistent system to close the gap.

As the Deputy Minister for Social Services and Carers I’m proud to say how the Assembly Government places such an emphasis on the needs of vulnerable people in our community.

Having taken a brief look back at the year I’m confident that, although our work is far from done, we are certainly moving in the right direction.

But there is still more that we can do as a Government and that we can all do as individuals.
We could offer practical support, like writing Christmas cards or getting some shopping in, putting up decorations or even something as simple as dropping by with a neighbour regularly for a chat.

And if we have some time on our hands, we could always invite an elderly neighbour or relative around for a Christmas lunch in the week leading up to Christmas.

This will help make sure they have a good meal and company and you may find you make a friend.

Press Release: LABOUR MINISTER SEEKS TO END POSTCODE LOTTERY FOR HOMECARE CHARGES

- Deputy Minister Gwenda Thomas outlines plans for Assembly power over homecare charging

OLDER people and vulnerable adults who rely on social care in the home will be charged based on their circumstances and not where they live, Neath AM and Deputy Minister for Social Services Gwenda Thomas announced today.

Plans outlined today in the National Assembly by Welsh Labour's Deputy Minister for Social Services Gwenda Thomas will see the power to set maximum charges for social care in the home and to exempt groups from charges being devolved to the Welsh Assembly Government from the UK Government.

Currently, charges for homecare and other social services are decided by locally by each of the 22 local authorities in Wales. This has resulted in wide variations across Wales. With new legal powers over charging for these services, the Assembly Government will be able to deliver a fairer and more consistent charging policy for all adult users of homecare services.

Neath AM and Deputy Social Services Minister Gwenda Thomas said:

"Welsh Labour is committed to helping the most vulnerable people in our community.

"The Labour-led Assembly Government fully recognises the need to end the postcode lottery that exists for the charges for homecare, and that's why I'm leading the Assembly Government’s effort to deal with this issue so that people in my constituency and throughout Wales who rely on homecare get a far fairer deal.

"A fairer charging policy will help older people and the disabled to get the services they need to help them in their day to day lives.

"The Labour-led Assembly Government wants to shift social care away from residential care so that more people can remain in their own home and still get the day-to-day support they need.

"Access to personalised care gives older people and the disabled who use these services more independence in their daily lives even when they have to rely on support from others.’’

-Ends-

Notes to editors

The charging for homecare and other non-residential social services is currently at the discretion of individual local authorities. This has resulted in significant variations in charging policies for similar services across Wales.

The Legislative Competence Order (LCO) - Charging for Non-Residential Social Care (Domiciliary Care) - will enable the Assembly Government to legislate against such disparity.

LCOs are an Order in Council made under section 95 of the Government of Wales Act 2006. The Order is submitted by the Assembly in draft to Parliament for approval. Once granted it will extend the scope of the Assembly to pass an Assembly Measure at any time within the subject matter of the Order.

The Order is restricted to charges imposed by local authorities in respect of non-residential social care. It would not enable the Assembly to legislate in respect of charges levied by private care providers for non-residential social care. A significant amount of research and consultation with stakeholders will be undertaken in order to determine how best to achieve a fairer and more consistent approach.

Press Release: Deputy Minister urges people to consider adoption

Deputy Minister for Social Services Gwenda Thomas is encouraging people to consider adopting or fostering children in Wales ahead of National Adoption Week, which starts on Monday, 5 November.

The week runs until Sunday, 11 November and aims to raise awareness of adoption and calls on people from all walks of life to find out about adopting a child. This week aims to build on the achievements of Fostering Fortnight in May which highlights the benefits of fostering. Latest figures show that there has been a 2.5 per cent increase in the number of children looked after by local authorities in Wales. Of those looked after, 13 per cent had three or more placements in a year.

The Deputy Minister, Gwneda Thomas said:

“We recognise and value the important role that foster carers play in caring for vulnerable children and young people. Whether people are currently foster carers or would like to find out more information about foster care or adopting a child, their local authority can give them all the necessary help, advice and support.

"Fostering and adopting can be extremely rewarding and benefit both the parent and child. Adopting a child can provide the long-term stability and love that a child needs to improve their quality of life and have the best start in life.

"While local authorities and their staff work hard to give the necessary care and support to the children in their care, they cannot give the love and attention that a foster carer or adoptive parents can. Whether you are single, married, or a couple, fostering or adoption can be for you. Your local authority can give you all the information you need to go through the application process in your effort to provide a child with a loving and caring home.”

Learning disabled are full citizens

Wales is committed to making sure all people with a learning disability are full citizens, equal in status and value to other citizens of the same age, with the same rights as every other person in the country.

A team of learning disability professionals, parents and people with learning disabilities headed up by a professor from Cardiff University School of Medicine has guided the Welsh Assembly Government in developing a learning disability policy for the 21st Century.

The Learning Disability Implementation Advisory Group, co-chaired by Professor David Felce, Director of the Welsh Centre for Learning Disabilities in the Department of Psychological Medicine, advised the Assembly on the implementation of a new Statement on Policy and Practice for Adults with a Learning Disability.

“It sets out a vision for the future for people with a learning disability and will guide the future design and delivery of Wales’ health and social services to people with learning disabilities”, explains Professor Felce.

The Learning Disability Implementation Advisory Group was established in 2003 by the Welsh Assembly Government to advise on the implementation of the All Wales Strategy for People with Learning Disabilities.

The Group’s ongoing advice and guidance of was praised by the Deputy Minister for Health and Social Services, Gwenda Thomas AM, during the official launch of the Statement at the Senedd.

She said:

“This group has provided helpful and thoughtful advice to the Welsh Assembly Government on a wide range of issues that affect the lives of people with learning disabilities. It has played a key role in developing our new contemporary statement.

“I am sure that these new principles will be absorbed and embraced quickly by all learning disability stakeholders and will soon become an integral part of the cultural and philosophical approach that will help guide the future design and development of service and support arrangements for adults with a learning disability.”

The Advisory Group is working on an Action Plan to follow up the policy statement.