Translate the text from English to Welsh.



 
 


Securing rights and entitlements to ensure people have a strong voice and real control over their care and support, to enable them to maximise their well\-being, is the nucleus of our vision for *Sustainable Social Services* for Wales.


There are many people who advocate for individuals to ensure they have their voice heard for example; teachers, social workers, community nurses, carers, colleagues, family and friends.


However there are times when because of a person’s capacity, the environment or circumstances they find themselves in, the individual does not feel empowered to use their voice to ensure that they are safe, or that they have a voice in what matters to them about their daily life or where they can get care or support. When this happens having access to an independent advocate who can represent them and be their voice to communicate their views and wishes freely and directly is critical.


The Welsh Government is unique in our approach and our pledge to people in Wales is that we embrace the value of individuals’ rights: 


* to be listened to;
* to be respected;
* to be taken seriously; and
* to be in control.


These key principles and ethos are at the core of all of our policies and programmes.


Through the Social Services and Well\-being (Wales) Bill we have taken this further, by placing ***securing rights and entitlements*** as one of the main requirements that underpins a person’s well\-being.


We have recognised the important role that an advocate has in supporting and helping people at particularly difficult or vulnerable times and there is legislation in place to ensure these individuals have an enforceable right to representation. This helps ensure that:


* the views of children who are looked after and other children and young people who have care and support needs are assisted when making a representation or complaint about key issues that are affecting their lives;
* children and younger adults are represented in tribunals and appeals about their statement for Special Educations Needs;
* people who lack capacity are supported in making informed decisions in hospital and the community about their care and treatment for mental health.


**The Social Services and Well\-being (Wales) Bill builds on these existing entitlements through the establishment of a new framework that:**


* preserves rights for children and young people currently provided for under the Children Act 1989 to an advocate when making a representation or a complaint and extends the new framework to provide assistance to adults when making a complaint about a function of social services; and
* ensures that people can access information, advice and assistance (IAA) about their care and support to make informed decisions. This service must be accessible to all and provided in a manner to meet the individual circumstance. It must include; how to access it, what services are available, financial advice (including what financial support they can receive towards their care), how to raise concern about their or someone else’s safety and well\-being.


Additionally, the new duties will;


* require local authorities to provide assistance. For some people – who have communication or other difficulties for example – this will be a face to face discussion to provide advice and support in accessing local services. It could also be a referral for a comprehensive assessment by a social worker when more intense intervention is necessary.


The “assistance” aspect of the new statutory Information, Advice and Assistance duties in the Bill will allow for an advocate on behalf of those individuals who need such support. Our expectation of the service, including the role of assisting people in accessing care and support, will be clearly articulated in the supporting Code of Practice.


As a listening Government, we have heard the representations and considered the evidence submitted by many about the important role of advocacy and the need for it to be available in wider circumstances than is currently the case. The reports by the Older People’s Commissioner for Wales; Age Cymru \- Advocacy Counts; the Children’s Commissioner for Wales \- Missing Voices and the Health and Social Care Committee report on Residential Care for Older people in Wales as well as the comprehensive scrutiny of the Social Services and Well\-being (Wales) Bill by key stakeholders set out a compelling argument that there are circumstances where an independent advocate would make a significant contribution to assist an individual in making decisions about their care. This enables individuals to exercise voice and control to maximise their well\-being.


I have carefully considered the evidence and I am persuaded by these representations and am pleased to announce today my intention to bring forward government amendments to the Social Services and Well\-being (Wales) Bill to further extend provision for statutory advocacy. In particular, I intend to include provisions;


* for regulations to place duties on local authorities to make advocacy available in prescribed circumstances for example,  people with complex needs who may not have the capability or wider family or community networks to advocate on their behalf in decisions about their care;
* for regulations to require that independent advocacy is provided to people when the local authority is investigating a concern of risk or abuse;
* requiring ***local authorities*** to promote and inform people of their right to advocacy, including self\- funders; and
* requiring ***registered care home providers*** to inform people in their care about the availably of advocacy services by the local authority.


These further changes that I am considering reinforce the importance that the Welsh Government places on ensuring that those who are in most need and who experience difficult times are supported in making decisions about their care. A power to make regulations provides a statutory framework to enable us to future proof our responses over time to differing circumstances and thereby ensure that people have a strong voice and real control.


As set out in Sustainable Social Services: A Framework for Action and to ensure there is momentum in progressing our commitment to the development of a detailed business case to provide us with options for a future incremental and affordable expansion of advocacy, the Older People’s Commissioner for Wales has set up and agreed to chair a task group on Advocacy. I am grateful to the Commissioner for her leadership on this and the work that her office will undertake in this area. I have also asked the Task Group to work closely with the Expert Advisory Group on Advocacy that has been jointly established between myself and the Minister for Communities and Tackling Poverty. The Expert Group has been asked to consider some of the issues around advocacy provision for children and young people, and their important work and that of the Task Group will need to be considered carefully together. The Minister and I will make further statements about the work of the Expert Group in due course. Therefore the Task Group and Expert Group will both have a role in shaping the policy for future regulations to be made under the Advocacy Framework and I will keep Assembly Members informed of progress.    

  

I know Assembly Members and others will warmly welcome this statement, but also share my view that legislation alone will not realise our vision for an inclusive Wales that empowers all people to have voice and control of their care. Professionals and others across all sectors of care (not advocates alone) have a fundamental role in promoting and better responding to ensure the views and wishes of people are heard within day to day practice. In short, advocating for people who need care and support is a responsibility that falls to each of us in the different guises and roles we take in life with family, friends, community and in our professional lives.  


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 







Translation:


 
 Hanfod ein gweledigaeth ar gyfer *Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol Cynaliadwy i Gymru* yw sicrhau hawliau i wneud yn siŵr bod gan bobl lais cryf a rheolaeth wirioneddol dros eu gofal a'u cymorth er mwyn i’w llesiant fod cystal â phosibl.

 Mae llawer o bobl sy'n eirioli ar ran unigolion i sicrhau bod eu llais yn cael ei glywed, er enghraifft athrawon, gweithwyr cymdeithasol, nyrsys cymunedol, gofalwyr, cydweithwyr, teulu a chyfeillion. 

 Fodd bynnag, ar adegau bydd galluedd, amgylchedd neu amgylchiadau unigolion yn golygu nad ydynt yn teimlo bod ganddynt y grym i leisio'u barn i sicrhau eu bod yn ddiogel, neu bod ganddynt lais ynghylch y pethau sy'n bwysig iddyn nhw yn eu bywyd bob dydd, neu ynglŷn â ble i gael gafael ar ofal neu gymorth. Pan fydd hyn yn digwydd, mae'n hanfodol eu bod yn gallu troi at eiriolwr annibynnol a all eu cynrychioli a lleisio'u barn a'u dymuniadau yn rhydd ac yn uniongyrchol.

 Mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn unigryw yn ein gwaith a'n haddewid i bobl Cymru i werthfawrogi hawliau unigolion ar gyfer y canlynol:

 * cael gwrandawiad;
* cael eu parchu;
* cael eu cymryd o ddifrif; a
* bod mewn rheolaeth.

 Yr ethos a'r egwyddorion allweddol hyn sydd wrth wraidd ein holl bolisïau a’n rhaglenni.

 Drwy Fil Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol a Llesiant (Cymru), rydyn ni wedi datblygu hyn ymhellach drwy wneud ***sicrhau hawliau*** yn un o'r prif ofynion sy'n sylfaen i lesiant unigolyn. 

 Rydyn ni wedi cydnabod y rôl bwysig sydd gan eiriolwyr o ran cefnogi a helpu pobl ar adegau arbennig o anodd neu fregus, ac mae deddfwriaeth ar waith i sicrhau bod gan yr unigolion hyn hawl gorfodadwy i gael cynrychiolaeth. Mae hyn yn helpu i sicrhau: 

 * cymorth i blant sy'n derbyn gofal a phlant a phobl ifanc eraill sydd ag anghenion gofal a chymorth i leisio'u barn wrth wneud sylw neu gŵyn am y materion allweddol sy'n effeithio ar eu bywydau;
* cynrychiolaeth i blant a phobl ifanc mewn tribiwnlysoedd ac apeliadau ynghylch eu datganiad Anghenion Addysgol Arbennig;
* bod pobl sydd heb alluedd i wneud hynny yn cael cymorth i wneud penderfyniadau gwybodus yn yr ysbyty ac yn y gymuned am eu gofal a'u triniaeth iechyd meddwl.

 **Mae'r Bil Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol a Llesiant (Cymru) yn adeiladu ar yr hawliau hyn drwy sefydlu fframwaith newydd sydd:** 

 * yn cadw'r hawl sydd gan blant a phobl ifanc ar hyn o bryd o dan ddarpariaethau Deddf Plant 1989 i gael eiriolwr wrth wneud sylw neu gŵyn, ac yn ymestyn y fframwaith newydd i helpu oedolion wrth iddynt wneud cwyn am un o swyddogaethau gwasanaethau cymdeithasol; ac
* yn sicrhau y gall pobl gael gwybodaeth, cyngor a chymorth am eu gofal, a chymorth i wneud penderfyniadau gwybodus. Mae'n rhaid bod pawb yn gallu defnyddio'r gwasanaeth hwn a'i fod yn cael ei ddarparu mewn ffordd sy'n gweddu i amgylchiadau unigol. Rhaid bod hyn yn cynnwys: sut i gael mynediad, pa wasanaethau sydd ar gael, cyngor ariannol (gan gynnwys pa gymorth ariannol sydd ar gael ar gyfer eu gofal), a sut i fynegi pryder am eu diogelwch a'u lles nhw neu rywun arall.

 Hefyd bydd y dyletswyddau newydd: 

 * yn ei gwneud yn ofynnol i awdurdodau lleol roi cymorth. Yn achos rhai pobl, er enghraifft sydd ag anawsterau cyfathrebu neu eraill, bydd hyn ar ffurf trafodaeth wyneb yn wyneb i roi cyngor a chymorth ar gyfer defnyddio gwasanaethau lleol. Gallai hyn hefyd fod ar ffurf atgyfeiriad gan weithiwr cymdeithasol at asesiad cynhwysfawr pan fydd angen ymyrraeth fwy dwys.

 Diben elfen “gymorth” y dyletswyddau statudol newydd o ran Gwybodaeth, Cyngor a Chymorth yn y Bil fydd caniatáu eiriolwr ar ran yr unigolion hynny sydd angen cefnogaeth o'r fath. Bydd ein disgwyliadau ar y gwasanaeth, gan gynnwys y rôl cynorthwyo pobl i gael gofal a chymorth, yn cael eu nodi'n glir yn y Cod Ymarfer ategol. 

 Fel Llywodraeth sy'n gwrando, rydyn ni wedi clywed y sylwadau ac wedi ystyried y dystiolaeth a gyflwynwyd gan sawl un ynghylch rôl bwysig eirioli a'r angen i hyn fod ar gael mewn mwy o amgylchiadau nag sy'n digwydd ar hyn o bryd. Mae'r adroddiadau gan Gomisiynydd Pobl Hŷn Cymru, Age Cymru \- Pwysigrwydd Eiriolaeth, Comisiynydd Plant Cymru – Lleisiau Coll, ac adroddiad y Pwyllgor Iechyd a Gofal Cymdeithasol ar Ofal Preswyl i Bobl Hŷn yng Nghymru, yn ogystal â chraffu cynhwysfawr ar y Bil Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol a Llesiant (Cymru) gan randdeiliaid allweddol, yn amlinellu dadl gymhellgar bod amgylchiadau lle byddai eiriolwr annibynnol yn gwneud cyfraniad sylweddol i helpu unigolyn wrth wneud penderfyniadau am eu gofal. Mae hyn yn galluogi unigolion i leisio barn a chymryd rheolaeth i sicrhau bod eu llesiant cystal â phosibl.    
Rwyf wedi ystyried y dystiolaeth yn ofalus ac wedi fy narbwyllo gan y sylwadau hynny. Rwy'n falch o gyhoeddi heddiw mai fy mwriad yw cyflwyno gwelliannau'r Llywodraeth i'r Bil Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol a Llesiant (Cymru) i ddatblygu'r ddarpariaeth eirioli statudol ymhellach. Yn arbennig, rwy’n bwriadu cynnwys darpariaeth:

 * ar gyfer rheoliadau i roi dyletswyddau ar awdurdodau lleol i ddarparu eiriolaeth mewn amgylchiadau penodol, er enghraifft pobl ag anghenion cymhleth sydd efallai heb y gallu na’r rhwydweithiau teuluol neu gymunedol ehangach i eirioli ar eu rhan mewn penderfyniadau am eu gofal;
* ar gyfer rheoliadau i'w gwneud yn ofynnol bod eiriolaeth annibynnol yn cael ei chynnig i bobl lle mae'r awdurdod lleol yn ymchwilio i bryder ynghylch risg neu gam\-drin;
* ei gwneud yn ofynnol i ***awdurdodau lleol*** hyrwyddo a hysbysu pobl am eu hawl i gael eiriolaeth, gan gynnwys hunan\-ariannwyr;
* ei gwneud yn ofynnol i ***ddarparwyr cartrefi gofal cofrestredig*** hysbysu pobl yn eu gofal am y gwasanaethau eirioli y mae'r awdurdod lleol yn eu darparu.

 Mae'r newidiadau pellach hyn rwy'n eu hystyried yn pwysleisio'r pwysigrwydd i Lywodraeth Cymru o ran sicrhau bod y rheini sydd fwyaf mewn angen ac sy'n wynebu cyfnodau anodd yn cael eu cefnogi i wneud penderfyniadau am eu gofal. Mae pŵer i wneud rheoliadau yn cynnig fframwaith statudol i'n galluogi i brawfesur ein hymatebion dros gyfnod yn ôl gwahanol amgylchiadau ac felly sicrhau bod gan bobl lais cryf a rheolaeth wirioneddol.

 Fel y nodir yn Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol Cynaliadwy: Fframwaith Gweithredu ac er mwyn sicrhau bod momentwm o ran bwrw ymlaen â’n hymrwymiad i ddatblygu achos busnes manwl i roi opsiynau i ni ar gyfer ehangu eiriolaeth yn raddol ac yn fforddiadwy yn y dyfodol, mae Comisiynydd Pobl Hŷn Cymru wedi sefydlu grŵp gorchwyl ar eiriolaeth, ac wedi cytuno i'w gadeirio. Rwy'n ddiolchgar i'r Comisiynydd am ei harweiniad ar hyn a'r gwaith y bydd ei swyddfa'n ei wneud yn y maes hwn. Rwyf hefyd wedi gofyn i’r Grŵp Gorchwyl weithio’n agos gyda’r Grŵp Cynghori Arbenigol ar Eiriolaeth sydd wedi’i sefydlu ar y cyd gennyf i a’r Gweinidog Cymunedau a Threchu Tlodi. Gofynnwyd i’r Grŵp Arbenigol ystyried rhai o’r materion ynghylch y ddarpariaeth eirioli ar gyfer plant a phobl ifanc, a bydd angen ystyried ei waith pwysig a gwaith y Grŵp Gorchwyl yn ofalus gyda’i gilydd. Byddaf i a’r Gweinidog yn gwneud datganiadau pellach am waith y Grŵp Arbenigol maes o law. Felly bydd gan y Grŵp Gorchwyl a’r Grŵp Arbenigol rôl allweddol o ran llunio'r polisi ar gyfer gwneud rheoliadau yn y dyfodol o ran y Fframwaith Eirioli, a byddaf yn hysbysu Aelodau'r Cynulliad am y cynnydd diweddaraf.    
  
Rwy'n gwybod y bydd Aelodau'r Cynulliad ac eraill yn croesawu'r datganiad hwn yn wresog, ond y byddant hefyd yn cytuno â mi na fydd deddfwriaeth yn unig yn gwireddu'n gweledigaeth ar gyfer Cymru gynhwysol sy'n rhoi'r grym i bawb leisio barn a chael rheolaeth ar eu gofal. Mae gan weithwyr proffesiynol ac eraill ar draws pob sector gofal (nid dim ond eiriolwyr) rôl hollbwysig i'w chwarae o ran hyrwyddo ac ymateb yn well i sicrhau bod safbwyntiau a dymuniadau pobl yn cael eu clywed mewn gwaith o ddydd i ddydd. I grynhoi, mae eirioli ar ran y bobl sydd angen gofal a chymorth yn rhywbeth y mae angen i bob un ohonom ei ysgwyddo yn ein rolau mewn bywyd gyda theulu, cyfeillion a chymuned, ac yn ein bywydau proffesiynol.