Developing a Sustainable Choice Policy for Social Services

Why is a Choice Policy Needed?

The Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act places a strong emphasis on helping people have a voice, make choices, and have control over the support they receive. Social Services remains committed to these principles and works with people to understand what matters most to them and achieve their personal outcomes.

At the same time, Social Services must balance individual wishes with the responsibility to use public resources fairly and sustainably for the benefit of the wider community. Demand for support continues to grow, while services face increasing financial pressures.

What Will the Policy Do?

The proposed Choice Policy is not intended to limit people's choices or replace professional judgement. Instead, it will provide a clear framework to help ensure decisions are made fairly, consistently and transparently.

The policy will help:

• Ensure people in similar situations are treated consistently.
• Support fair and proportionate decision-making.
• Explain how decisions are made and the principles behind them.
• Support practitioners to make decisions with confidence.
• Balance individual preferences with the needs of the wider community.

Shaping the Policy Together

The policy is being developed with input from those who use, deliver and support Social Services. Staff experience and professional expertise will play an important role in ensuring the policy is practical, fair and effective.

Our Aim

Our service offer will always meet a person’s assessed need. The ambition is to create a policy that respects people's voice and choice, supports staff, promotes fairness and consistency, and helps ensure Social Services can continue to meet the needs of residents in a sustainable and equitable way.

How you can have your say in the development of this policyWe have created a number of useful documents to support you to understand the context surround the policy. These can be found in the links to the right.

You can tell us your views and have your say on the draft Person-Centred Care Choices Policy by completing the survey in the link.

Have Your Say!

If you are not able to feedback to us online, please get in touch and talk to us about what would work for you.