Translate the text from Welsh to English.



 
 Rwy’n falch o ddarparu’r datganiad hwn i Aelodau.  Byddaf yn amlinellu’r amserlen ar gyfer rheoleiddio gwasanaethau o dan gamau 2 a 3 o Ddeddf Rheoleiddio ac Arolygu Gofal Cymdeithasol (Cymru) 2016 a’n cynnydd gyda cham 2 y broses o weithredu, gan gynnwys cyflwyno Rheoliadau Gwasanaethau Rheoleiddiedig (Darparwyr Gwasanaethau ac Unigolion Cyfrifol) (Cymru) 2017\.  Hefyd, byddaf yn sôn am sut bydd y rhain yn effeithio ar y gofynion ar gyfer Nyrsys Cofrestredig mewn cartrefi gofal yng Nghymru.  
  
**Yr Amserlen ar gyfer Rheoleiddio Gwasanaethau**  
  
Bydd cam 2 y Ddeddf yn cael ei weithredu mis Chwefror nesaf, pan fydd y ffenestr ymgeisio yn agor i’r holl ddarparwyr cartrefi gofal, cymorth cartref, llety diogel a gwasanaethau canolfan breswyl i deuluoedd gofrestru gydag Arolygiaeth Gofal a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol Cymru.  Bydd darparwyr yn cael ailgofrestru o fis Ebrill y flwyddyn nesaf, a disgwylir y bydd y broses o wneud penderfyniad ynghylch pob cais yn cymryd rhwng dau a phedwar mis. Bydd y cofrestriadau hyn yn dod i rym unwaith y bydd yr hysbysiad o benderfyniad wedi’i gyhoeddi. Felly bydd darparwyr cartrefi gofal, cymorth cartref, llety diogel a chanolfannau preswyl i deuluoedd yn dechrau cael eu rheoleiddio o dan Ddeddf 2016 o haf 2018 ymlaen.   
  
O ran gwasanaethau mabwysiadu, maethu, eiriolaeth a lleoli oedolion, rydym yn gweithio gyda’r sector ar y rheoliadau ar gyfer y gwasanaethau hyn fel rhan o gam 3 y broses weithredu.  Bydd y Cynulliad yn ystyried y rheoliadau perthnasol yn ystod hydref/gaeaf 2018\. Felly, ni fydd gofyn i'r gwasanaethau hyn gofrestru o dan y Ddeddf tan fis Ebrill 2019\. Bydd arolygiadau yn erbyn y gofynion newydd yn dechrau o fis Ebrill 2019 ymlaen ar gyfer y gwasanaethau hyn.   
  
  
**Cofnodi ac ymgynghori ynghylch cam 2 y rheoliadau sy’n ymwneud â chartrefi gofal, cymorth cartref, llety diogel a gwasanaethau canolfannau preswyl i deuluoedd,**   
  
Er mwyn symud ymlaen i roi’r Ddeddf ar waith, rydym wedi ymgynghori’n ddiweddar ynghylch Rheoliadau Gwasanaethau Rheoleiddiedig (Darparwyr Gwasanaethau ac Unigolion Cyfrifol) (Cymru) 2017 a rheoliadau hysbysiadau cosb cysylltiedig. Cynhaliwyd yr ymgynghoriad ynghylch agweddau o'r rheoliadau sy’n gysylltiedig â gwasanaethau dros ddeuddeg wythnos rhwng mis Mai a mis Gorffennaf 2017\. Roedd yr ymgynghoriad ynghylch agweddau sy’n gysylltiedig â’r gweithlu’n gorgyffwrdd â hyn, a digwyddodd hynny dros wyth wythnos rhwng mis Mehefin a mis Awst.  Cyflwynwyd Rheoliadau Gwasanaethau Rheoleiddiedig (Darparwyr Gwasanaethau ac Unigolion Cyfrifol) (Cymru) 2017 fel y'u diwygiwyd yn dilyn yr ymgynghoriad hwn, gerbron y Cynulliad ddydd Gwener, a heddiw rwy’n cyhoeddi'r adroddiadau ymgynghori a’r canllawiau statudol drafft cysylltiedig.   
  
http://www.assembly.wales/cy/bus\-home/Pages/Plenary.aspx?assembly\=5\&category\=Laid Document    
  
https://ymgyngoriadau.llyw.cymru/ymgyngoriadau/cam\-2\-y\-broses\-o\-roi\-deddf\-rheoleiddio\-ac\-arolygu\-gofal\-cymdeithasol\-cymru\-2016\-ar    
  
https://ymgyngoriadau.llyw.cymru/ymgyngoriadau/cam\-2\-y\-broses\-o\-weithredu\-deddf\-rheoleiddio\-ac\-arolygu\-gofal\-cymdeithasol\-cymru\-2016   
  
http://gov.wales/topics/health/socialcare/regulation/?skip\=1\&lang\=cy    
  
Derbyniwyd cyfanswm o 184 o ymatebion ysgrifenedig i'r ddau ymgynghoriad gan amrywiaeth eang o randdeiliaid, yn ogystal â chyfraniadau gwerthfawr gan y 180 a ddaeth i’n digwyddiadau ymgynghori.  O ganlyniad, rydym wedi gwneud nifer o newidiadau i'r rheoliadau er mwyn hybu ein bwriadau polisi ymhellach, er mwyn canolbwyntio rheoleiddio ac arolygu ar gefnogi unigolion i gyflawni canlyniadau lles personol a gwella ansawdd a pharhad gofal gan symleiddio rheoleiddio ac arolygu o safbwynt y darparwr.    
  
Rydym wedi gwneud newidiadau arbennig o bwysig i’r gofynion yng nghyswllt Nyrsys Cofrestredig, ac rwy’n rhoi sylw i hyn isod. Ond yn gyntaf, hoffwn dynnu sylw aelodau at rai o’r newidiadau arwyddocaol eraill rydym wedi’u gwneud, mewn ymateb i adborth o’r ymgynghoriad.  
  
**Newidiadau i’r rheoliadau ar ôl yr ymgynghoriad**  
  
Roedd nifer o’r ymatebwyr yn bryderus oherwydd bod gofyn i ddarparwr gwasanaeth roi gwybod i wahanol bartïon am unrhyw ddiwygiad i’r Datganiad o Ddiben 28 diwrnod cyn i'r diwygiad hwnnw gael ei roi ar waith. Roeddent yn teimlo nad oedd y gofyn hwn yn caniatáu iddynt wneud newidiadau ar fwy o frys.  Rydym wedi gwrando ar hyn, ac wedi diwygio’r rheoliadau i gydnabod y gall fod achosion lle mae angen i ddarparwr gwasanaeth ddiwygio ei Ddatganiad o Ddiben ar unwaith, a nodi’r gofynion a fydd yn berthnasol mewn amgylchiadau o’r fath.  
  
Yn yr un modd, cyflwynodd ymatebwyr amrywiol safbwyntiau ynghylch ein cynigion ar gyfer ystafelloedd a rennir ar gyfer oedolion. Rydym wedi dileu’r gofyn bod rhaid i bobl sy’n rhannu ystafell fod yn perthyn i’w gilydd.  Yn hytrach, rydym yn canolbwyntio ar lais a rheolaeth yr unigolyn drwy sicrhau mai dewis yr unigolyn ei hun yw rhannu ystafell neu beidio, a bod hynny’n gyson â’i lesiant. Er mwyn osgoi cynnydd yn nifer yr ystafelloedd a rennir, mae’r rheoliadau bellach yn datgan na chaiff nifer yr oedolion mewn ystafelloedd a rennir fod yn uwch na 15% o gyfanswm nifer yr oedolion sy’n cael llety gan y gwasanaeth. Mae hyn yn adlewyrchu gofyn yn y Safonau Gofynnol Cenedlaethol sy’n bodoli eisoes.  
  
Rydym yn ystyried bod y gofynion yng nghyswllt Unigolion Cyfrifol yn bwysig iawn. Rydym am iddynt wybod a chysylltu â’r gwasanaethau y maent yn gyfrifol amdanynt, ond rydym hefyd am sicrhau bod ein gofynion yn gymesur.  Oherwydd hyn, mae’r gofyn sy’n ymwneud ag amlder yr ymweliadau â’r gwasanaeth gan yr Unigolyn Cyfrifol wedi’i newid o bob mis i bob tri mis mewn ymateb i adborth i’r ymgynghoriad.  Cafwyd cwestiynau ynghylch i ba raddau y gallai Unigolion Cyfrifol ddirprwyo’r swyddogaeth hon. Rydym wedi cadw at y farn bod yn rhaid i’r unigolyn cyfrifol ymweld yn bersonol, ond rydym wedi diwygio’r rheoliadau er mwyn i’r geiriau ‘rhoi trefniadau addas yn eu lle’ gael eu defnyddio’n gyson er mwyn bod yn glir ynghylch meysydd lle gall yr unigolyn cyfrifol ddirprwyo rhai tasgau i eraill, ond gan gadw’r cyfrifoldeb a’r atebolrwydd cyffredinol o hyd.  
  
**Newidiadau i’r gofynion o ran y ddarpariaeth nyrsio mewn cartrefi gofal**  
  
Mae’r Datganiad o Ddiben yn ddogfen bwysig ar gyfer cofrestru a darparu’r gwasanaeth, o dan y Ddeddf. Mae’n disgrifio’r weledigaeth ar gyfer y gwasanaeth, anghenion y bobl a fydd yn derbyn gofal a sut bydd yr anghenion hynny’n cael eu bodloni, gan gynnwys y trefniadau staffio mewn ymateb i'r angen hwnnw. Felly, mae’n faen prawf ar gyfer arolygu’r gwasanaeth yn barhaus.   
  
O ran staffio, mae’r gofyn i ddarparwyr ddarparu tystiolaeth o sut mae’r trefniadau staffio’n briodol ar gyfer yr amrywiaeth o anghenion sydd i’w bodloni a’r gwasanaethau sydd i’w darparu, yn ategu’r Datganiad o Ddiben.   
  
Ar ôl ymgynghori ac ymgysylltu eto â Choleg Brenhinol y Nyrsys, rydym wedi diwygio a chryfhau ein dull gweithredu ar gyfer staffio gan gyfeirio at Nyrsys Cofrestredig yn benodol. Mae’r gofynion newydd ar ddarparwyr gwasanaeth yng nghyswllt staffio yn adeiladu ar y sylfaen yr wyf wedi’i disgrifio uchod. Maent yn unol â’n dull gweithredu cyffredinol o ran rheoleiddio gofal a chymorth oherwydd nad ydynt, fel yr awgrymwyd, yn ymwneud â lleihau presenoldeb Nyrsys Cofrestredig mewn cartrefi nyrsio pan fo’u hangen, ond yn hytrach yn ymwneud â’i gryfhau drwy gysylltu hyn ag anghenion y preswylwyr.  Mae’r rheoliadau’n ei gwneud yn ofynnol i’r darparwr gael cymaint o nyrsys yn bresennol yn yr eiddo ag sy’n ofynnol yn ôl anghenion asesedig y preswylwyr, a’u bod yn gallu dangos sut maent wedi pennu’r nifer hwn.  Mae hyn yn cynnwys gofyn penodol, lle mae unigolyn wedi’i asesu yn rhywun y mae angen gofal nyrsio 24 awr y dydd arno, bod digon o nyrsys cofrestredig sydd â’r cymwysterau addas ar gael i weithio yn y gwasanaeth ar bob adeg.  Mae hyn er mwyn i ddarparwyr ystyried a gallu cyfiawnhau nifer y Nyrsys Cofrestredig ar y safle, a’r cymwyseddau craidd y mae gofyn iddynt eu cael, er mwyn gofalu am yr unigolion hynny sydd ag anghenion gofal nyrsio sy’n derbyn y gwasanaeth, mewn modd sensitif a chynhwysfawr.   
  
Mae ein Rheoliadau newydd yn canolbwyntio ar gryfhau’r gofynion hyn, a sicrhau hyblygrwydd i’r cartrefi hynny lle nad oes preswylwyr ag anghenion gofal nyrsio 24 awr y dydd.   Gall darparwyr gofal nodi’n union sut bydd yr anghenion yn cael eu bodloni yn yr amgylchiadau hyn, heb y gofyn rheoliadol ychwanegol a beichus.  
  
**Ymgysylltu â’r sector nyrsio ac eraill wrth ddatblygu ein cynigion**  
  
Trwy gydol ein gwaith yn gweithredu’r Ddeddf ac yn datblygu’r rheoliadau hyn, rydym wedi ceisio gweithio’n gyd\-gynhyrchiol â’n rhanddeiliaid allweddol, gan gynnal yr agwedd gadarnhaol a oedd gennym yng nghyswllt y ddeddfwriaeth o dan Wasanaethau Cymdeithasol Cynaliadwy i Gymru. Yr adeg yma y llynedd, buom yn gweithio’n helaeth gyda’n rhanddeiliaid mewn cyfres o grwpiau technegol, yn edrych ar y gwahanol reoliadau.  Roedd y rhain yn cynnwys cynrychiolwyr o lywodraeth leol, iechyd, darparwyr gofal a’r trydydd sector.  Roedd cynrychiolwyr o Goleg Brenhinol y Nyrsys ar y grŵp a oedd yn edrych ar ein cynigion ar gyfer rheoleiddio ac arolygu gwasanaethau seiliedig ar lety. Hefyd, cynhaliwyd cyfarfodydd ar lefel Gweinidogion a swyddogion, i edrych yn fwy manwl ar ofynion gwasanaethau seiliedig ar lety, lle mae gofal nyrsio’n cael ei ddarparu.   
  
**Cyfathrebu ac ymgysylltu yn y dyfodol**  
  
Mae lefel sylweddol yr ymatebion i’n hymgynghoriadau, a’r nifer dda a ddaeth i’n digwyddiadau i randdeiliaid, yn brawf o’n dull gweithredu cynhwysfawr o ran ymgynghori ac ymgysylltu.  Ond, rydym yn sylweddoli bod mwy o waith i’w wneud er mwyn paratoi’r sector ar gyfer gweithredu’r ddeddf y flwyddyn nesaf.  Mae gweithredu’r Ddeddf yn broses barhaus. Rydym wedi ymrwymo i gefnogi hyn drwy weithio gyda’n partneriaid i godi ymwybyddiaeth a dealltwriaeth o’r hyn y mae gweithredu’r Ddeddf yn ei olygu, a hynny ymhlith y rheini sy’n ymwneud yn fwyaf uniongyrchol â hyn. Mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn gweithio ochr yn ochr ag Arolygiaeth Gofal a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol Cymru, sef y rhai sy’n cyflenwi’r newidiadau a gyflwynir gan y Ddeddf, ac mae’n cadw llygad manwl ar y gwaith cyfathrebu ac ymgysylltu y mae’n eu harwain   
  
Mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi paratoi fersiynau hawdd eu deall ac ar gyfer plant o Ddeddf 2016 er mwyn cynorthwyo ac ymestyn yr ymgysylltu.  Mae rhagor o ddeunydd hygyrch wedi’i drefnu ar gyfer y cyfnod cyn gweithredu yn ystod gwanwyn y flwyddyn nesaf. Mae adnoddau ar gael ar\-lein ac yn cael eu hyrwyddo yn y digwyddiadau perthnasol i randdeiliaid.   
  
Er mwyn cefnogi hyn, mae Gofal Cymdeithasol Cymru wedi cael cyllid i ehangu ei Hwb Gwybodaeth a Dysgu i gynnal adnoddau a gwybodaeth am ddeddfwriaeth gofal cymdeithasol yng Nghymru, gan gynnwys Deddf 2016\. Mae pecyn gwybodaeth ac ymwybyddiaeth wedi’i baratoi ar y cyd hefyd, sy’n cynnwys sleidiau PowerPoint, fideos, taflenni a Chwestiynau Cyffredin.  
  
  
**Cefnogi'r gweithlu gofal cymdeithasol**  
Fel yr adlewyrchir yn ein rheoliadau arfaethedig, mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi ymrwymo i gefnogi a gwerthfawrogi’r gweithlu gofal cymdeithasol. Ar ôl ystyried safbwyntiau’r ymatebwyr yn ofalus o ran cynnig contractau i weithwyr gofal cartref ar ôl cyfnod cymhwyso, ac amlinellu amser gofal a theithio, ni fyddwn yn gwneud newidiadau i’r rheoliadau arfaethedig.  Rydym yn teimlo, drwy wneud y rheoliadau hyn, byddwn yn gwneud cynnydd gyda’n nod o wella ansawdd a pharhad gofal ar gyfer y bobl sy’n derbyn cymorth cartref, yn ogystal â gwneud pethau’n llawer cliriach a rhoi rhagor o gefnogaeth i weithwyr gofal cartref. Mae'r gofynion yn y rheoliadau hyn yn ategu agenda ehangach Llywodraeth Cymru o ran cefnogi’r gweithlu; mae’n canolbwyntio ar ei helpu i addasu a datblygu i fodloni’r gofynion gwasanaeth newydd, yn ogystal â sicrhau bod ei weithlu gofal cymdeithasol yng Nghymru yn gynaliadwy yn yr hirdymor.  Drwy Gofal Cymdeithasol Cymru, rydym yn datblygu amrywiaeth o gamau gweithredu i gefnogi’r gweithlu, gan gynnwys datblygu llwybrau gyrfa, adolygu graddau mewn gwaith cymdeithasol a datblygu set ddata genedlaethol i ganfod tueddiadau gofal cymdeithasol yn y dyfodol.  Bydd hyn yn helpu i godi proffil a gwella statws y sector, yn hwyluso proses effeithiol o gynllunio’r gweithlu, ac yn rhoi sylw i’r anawsterau presennol o ran recriwtio a chadw staff er mwyn i ofal cymdeithasol fod yn ddewis gyrfa cadarnhaol lle mae pobl yn cael eu gwerthfawrogi a’u cefnogi mewn ffordd gyfrifol.   








Translation:


 
I am pleased to be able to provide Members with this statement. I will outline the timeline for the implementation of the regulation of services under phases 2 and 3 of the Regulation and Inspection of Social Care (Wales) Act 2016 and our progress with phase 2 of implementation, including the laying of The Regulated Services (Service Providers and Responsible Individuals) (Wales) Regulations 2017\. In addition, I will touch on how these will impact upon the requirements for Registered Nurses in care homes in Wales.  

  

**Service Regulation Implementation timeline**  

  

Implementation of phase 2 of the Act will commence next February, when the application window will open for all providers of care home, domiciliary support, secure accommodation and residential family centre services to register with the Care and Social Services Inspectorate Wales. The re\-registration of providers will take place from April next year, with the determination of each application expected to take between two and four months. These registrations will take effect as soon as the notice of decision is issued, so that care home, domiciliary support, secure accommodation and residential family centre providers will start being regulated under the 2016 Act from summer 2018\.  

  

In relation to adoption, fostering, advocacy and adult placement services, we are working with the sector on regulations for these services as part of phase 3 of implementation. The relevant regulations will be considered by the Assembly in autumn/winter 2018\. Therefore these services will not be required to register under the Act until April 2019\. For these services, inspection against the new requirements will commence from April 2019 onwards.  

  

**Consultation on and laying of phase 2 regulations relating to care home, domiciliary support, secure accommodation and residential family centre services**  

  

To take forward implementation of the Act, we recently consulted upon the draft Regulated Services (Service Providers and Responsible Individuals) (Wales) Regulations 2017 and associated penalty notice regulations. The consultation on the service\-related aspects of the regulations took place over twelve weeks between May and July 2017 whilst the workforce\-related consultation overlapped this, taking place over eight weeks between June and August. The Regulated Services (Service Providers and Responsible Individuals) (Wales) Regulations 2017, as amended following this consultation, were laid before the Assembly on Friday and today I am publishing the associated consultation reports and draft statutory guidance.  

  

http://www.assembly.wales/en/bus\-home/Pages/Plenary.aspx?assembly\=5\&category\=Laid Document  

  

https://consultations.gov.wales/consultations/phase\-2\-implementation\-regulation\-and\-inspection\-social\-care\-wales\-act\-2016  

  

https://consultations.gov.wales/consultations/phase\-2\-implementation\-regulation\-and\-inspection\-social\-care\-wales\-act\-2016\-workforce  

  

http://gov.wales/topics/health/socialcare/regulation/?lang\=en    

  

184 written responses were received, in total, to both consultations from a wide range of stakeholders, in addition to the valuable contributions made by the 180 attendees at our consultation events. As a result, we have made a number of changes to the regulations in order to further our policy intentions, which are to focus regulation and inspection on supporting the achievement of an individual’s personal wellbeing outcomes and on improving the quality and continuity of care whilst also simplifying and streamlining regulation and inspection from the perspective of the provider.  

  

We have made particularly important changes to the requirements in relation to Registered Nurses, which I address below. However, first I would like to draw members’ attention to some of the other significant changes which, in response to consultation feedback, we have made.  

  

**Post\-consultation changes to the regulations**  

  

A number of respondents were concerned about the requirement for a service provider to notify various parties 28 days in advance of any revision to the Statement of Purpose coming into effect. They felt that this requirement did not allow for changes to be made more urgently. We have listened to this and amended the regulations to recognise that there may be cases where it is necessary for a service provider to revise their Statement of Purpose with immediate effect and to set out the requirements which will apply in such circumstances.  

  

Similarly, our proposals in relation to shared rooms for adults attracted a range of views from respondents, which has prompted us to remove the requirement for people sharing to have an existing family relationship. Instead, we are focusing on the individual’s voice and control by making sure that whether or not to share a room is their own free choice, consistent with their well\-being. In order to avoid an increase in the number of shared rooms the regulations now state that the number of adults in shared rooms must not exceed 15% of the total number of adults accommodated by the service, thus mirroring a requirement in the existing National Minimum Standards.  

  

We consider that the requirements in relation to Responsible Individuals are very important. We want them to know and engage with the services for which they are responsible, but we also want to ensure that our requirements are proportionate. For this reason, the requirement relating to the frequency of visits by the Responsible Individual to the service has been adjusted from monthly to 3 monthly in response to the consultation feedback.  There were questions about to what extent Responsible Individuals could delegate this function. We have maintained the view that the visit has to be made by the responsible individual in person but have amended the regulations so that the words ‘put suitable arrangements in place’ have been used consistently to provide clarity on areas where the responsible individual can delegate some tasks to others but still retain overall accountability and responsibility.  

  

**Changes to requirements in relation to nursing provision in care homes**  

  

Under the Act, the Statement of Purpose is a key document for the registration and provision of the service. It describes the vision for the service, the needs of the people to be cared for and how those needs are to be met, including the staffing arrangements in response to that need. As such it forms a touchstone for the ongoing inspection of the service.  

  

In relation to staffing, the Statement of Purpose requirements are complemented by requirements on providers to evidence how the staffing arrangements are appropriate for the range of needs to be met and services to be provided.  

  

After consultation and further engagement with the Royal College of Nursing, we have reviewed and strengthened our approach to staffing with reference to Registered Nurses in particular. The new requirements on service providers in relation to staffing build on the foundation which I have described above. They are in line with our whole approach to the regulation of care and support in that they are not, as has been suggested, about diluting the presence of Registered Nurses in nursing homes where these are needed, but rather about strengthening it by tying it to the needs of the residents. The regulations require the provider to have on the premises as many nurses in attendance as the residents’ assessed needs dictate, and to be able to demonstrate how they have determined this number. This includes a specific requirement that where an individual is assessed as needing 24 hour nursing care, there is a sufficient number of suitably qualified registered nurses deployed to work at the service at all times. This is so that providers consider and can justify the number of Registered Nurses on site, and the core competencies they are required to have, in order to care sensitively and comprehensively for those individuals with nursing care needs in receipt of the service.  

  

Our new Regulations focus on strengthening the requirements whilst also providing flexibility for those homes which do not have residents with 24\-hour nursing care needs.  In these situations care providers can set out exactly how needs will be met without the additional and burdensome regulatory requirement.  

  

**Engagement with the nursing sector and others in developing our proposals**  

  

Throughout our work in implementing the Act and in taking forward these regulations we have sought to work co\-productively with our key stakeholders, maintaining the positive approach taken in relation to legislation under Sustainable Social Services for Wales. This time last year we worked extensively with our stakeholders through a series of technical groups looking at the different regulations. These included representatives from local government, health, care providers and the third sector. The Royal College of Nursing was represented on the group looking at our proposals for the regulation and inspection of accommodation\-based services, and meetings have also taken place, both Ministerially and at official level, to further explore the requirements on accommodation\-based services where nursing care is provided.  

  

**Future communications and engagement**  

  

The significant level of response to our consultations, and well\-attended stakeholder events, evidence our comprehensive approach to consultation and engagement. However, we recognise that there is more to be done in order to ready the sector for implementation next year. Implementation of the Act is an ongoing process. We are committed to supporting this through working with our partners to raise awareness and understanding of what implementation of the Act means, amongst those most directly concerned. The Welsh Government works alongside the Care and Social Services Inspectorate Wales and Social Care Wales (SCW), who are the delivery agents of the changes introduced by the Act, and has close oversight of the communications and engagement activities which they lead.  

  

The Welsh Government has produced easy read and children’s versions of the 2016 Act to aid and extend engagement. Further accessible material is planned in the run\-up to implementation in spring next year. Resources are made available online and promoted at appropriate stakeholder events.  

  

To support this, SCW has been funded to expand its Information and Learning Hub to host resources and information about social care legislation in Wales, including the 2016 Act. An Information and awareness pack has also been produced collaboratively including PowerPoint slides, videos, leaflets, and Frequently Asked Questions.  

  

**Supporting the social care workforce**  

  

As reflected in our proposed regulations, the Welsh Government is committed to supporting and valuing the social care workforce. After careful consideration of respondents’ views in relation to offering domiciliary care workers contracts after a qualifying period and delineating care and travel time, we will not be making changes to the proposed regulations. We feel that by making these regulations we will progress our aim to improve the quality and continuity of care for people receiving domiciliary support as well as proving much\-needed clarity and support for domiciliary care workers. The requirements in these regulations complement the Welsh Government’s wider agenda in support of the workforce, with its focus on helping it to adapt and develop to meet the new service requirements, as well as ensuring the long\-term sustainability of the social care workforce in Wales. Through SCW, we are taking forward a range of actions to support the workforce including developing career pathways, reviewing social work degrees and developing a national data set to identify future trends for social care. This will help to raise the profile and status of the sector, facilitate effective workforce planning, and address current difficulties around recruitment and retention so social care becomes a positive career choice where people are valued and supported responsibly.