Translate the text from English to Welsh.



 
The Social Services and Well\-Being (Wales) Act 2014 (‘the 2014 Act’) firmly centred the delivery of care and support on individuals, having a stronger voice and greater control, within a more integrated social care system. That Act – which came into force in April 2016 – placed duties on local authorities with health boards and other partners to assess, plan and provide or arrange services to meet the care and support needs within their areas, with a focus on improved outcomes for individuals and their carers. Its companion, the Regulation and Inspection of Social Care (Wales) Act 2016 (‘the 2016 Act’) and regulations thereunder, place proportionate and appropriate requirements on service providers and responsible individuals to ensure that service delivery is of demonstrable standard and shares the same aims of meeting individuals’ needs and promoting well\-being. This statement provides and update on recent steps in the phased implementation of the 2016 Act.


### **Registration of regulated services**


It was originally envisaged that the new system of service regulation would beimplemented and operational for all regulated services by April 2019\. For Phase 2 services – care home, secure accommodation, residential family centre and domiciliary support services – regulations came into force in February and April 2018\. Since then, Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW)has re\-registered over 1,300 out of approximately 1,750 services with the remaining due for completion by the end of June.


The inspectorate has worked extensively with providers to ensure that their applications (and therefore the information CIW has on which to register and inspect them) have been completed accurately and fully, thus easing their eventual path to re\-registration. Corresponding regulations setting the standards required of Phase 3 services – adult placement, children’s statutory advocacy, fostering and adoption services – were passed by this Assembly earlier this year and came into force on 29 April. Provided that these services re\-apply to register – or in the case of advocacy services, apply for the first time – by 31 August, CIW anticipates that registrations will be determined by the end of this calendar year.


### **Local authority fostering and adoption services**


As local authority fostering and adoption services are not ‘regulated services’ within the meaning of the 2016 Act, they will not need to register with CIW but will continue to be inspected by them. However it has been our policy objective to apply the same standards, in so far as appropriate, across regulated and local authority services. To achieve this we have used powers under the 2014 Act and the Adoption and Children Act 2002, respectively, to place equivalent requirements on these services. I am confident that through the core requirements we have put in place – including those in relation to the governance of services, the way in which they are carried out, how they should be staffed and how they support and safeguard people – for regulated and local authority services, we have achieved the desired consistency of approach, whilst identifying and making adjustments to ensure that each set of regulations provides the best fit for the particular service.


### **Accountability for regulated services**


The 2016 Act and associated regulations place clear duties and responsibilities on owners of regulated services both in their capacity as providers and as employers in the care and support sector. They also require the designation of a ‘responsible individual’ for each service, who will need to meet with fitness criteria and have duties placed directly on them for ensuring the effective management and oversight of the service; ensuring the compliance of the service (particularly in respect of record keeping and policies and procedures) and leading on monitoring, reviewing and improving the quality of the service. Meanwhile, service managers, to be registered with Social Care Wales (SCW), retain responsibility for the day\-to\-day running of services. These are important features in rebalancing legal accountability for the overall performance and safety of regulated services towards providers and key decision makers, rather than those delivering care and support, person to person.


The regulations take a proportionate and, in so far as possible, universal approach tothe creation of offences for all regulated services, ensuing that they are capable of being understood by services and enforced by CIW. The regulations define which breaches will automatically constitute an offence and those whereby an offence may be committed if they result in people being exposed to avoidable harm, loss of money or property. Many of them replicate or modify existing offences and, based on recent data and CIW’s approach to enforcement – as outlined within their Securing Improvement and Enforcement policy – we anticipate that prosecution will be a last resort in holding providers and responsible individuals to account. The Regulated Services (Penalty Notices) (Wales) Regulations 2019, laid before the Assembly last week, will offer another enforcement option and act as a further deterrent. From July 2019, these will replace regulations made in 2017 and extend CIW’s option to issue a penalty rather than pursue a prosecution for certain offences to all regulated services.


### **Next steps**


Now that the essential operational elements of the 2016 Act are in place, work will continue with CIW, SCW, providers and citizens to apply the framework, including making any necessary amendments to secure our policy objectives in the light of experience or the direction of travel. Having re\-established effective and responsive systems for the regulation and inspection of approximately 1,800 services and their workforce (over 60,000 strong), this will take time to bed in but I am assured by the work that has taken place over the last 3 years and more, in conjunction with regulators and key stakeholders, that we have built a coherent and robust base from which to operate. I am also confident that we have established a system with sufficient flexibility to allow for new services and models of care and support to be brought into the regulatory fold, when and where this becomes desirable. 


In due course reporting mechanisms built into the 2016 Act, including annual returns from service providers (from May 2020\) as well as annual reports from both CIW and SCW, will provide an indication as to how the changes envisaged in the development and implementation of the Act are being delivered. The Welsh Government will take a keen interest in these sources, make best use of the intelligence they present and where indicated take appropriate and timely action, keeping Members appraised.


I want the whole sector to channel efforts into communicating to citizens the key legislative and system changes we have made, so that people who receive care and support, and their families, or those who are looking to choose their social care services, have a better idea of what they can and should expect. From 2021, we also intend to use powers within the 2016 Act to introduce a robust but fair and consistent ratings system for regulated services, as part of the inspection process, in order to achieve further transparency and encourage improvement. Strengthening voice and control is a cornerstone of the legal framework we have put in place and raising awareness of rights thereunder will help secure this.


I would like to thank the regulators, stakeholders and members for contributing their expertise in these fields. This has materially influenced the development of the regulations and accompanying guidance or codes of practice now in place. I also commend CIW for the success of its own implementation activity – the digitalisation of registration; the re\-alignment of inspection and enforcement frameworks; the re\-training undertaken and buy\-in from inspectors and the extensive support offered to providers in preparing them for registration and ongoing regulation under the 2016 Act.


The Information and Learning Hub, hosted by SCW, provides access to resources about social care legislation in Wales and includes links to the regulations, guidance and codes of practice made under both Acts. 


https://socialcare.wales/hub/regulation\-and\-inspection


https://socialcare.wales/hub/sswbact 







Translation:


 
Roedd Deddf Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol a Llesiant (Cymru) 2014 (‘Deddf 2014’) yn canolbwyntio darpariaeth gofal a chymorth yn gadarn ar unigolion, gyda llais cryfach a mwy o reolaeth, o fewn system gofal cymdeithasol fwy integredig. Roedd y Ddeddf honno – a ddaeth i rym ym mis Ebrill 2016 – yn rhoi dyletswydd ar awdurdodau lleol gyda byrddau iechyd a phartneriaid eraill, i asesu, cynllunio a darparu neu drefnu gwasanaethau i ddiwallu anghenion gofal a chymorth yn eu hardaloedd, gyda ffocws ar wella canlyniadau i unigolion a’u gofalwyr. Mae’r ddeddf ategol, Deddf Rheoleiddio ac Arolygu Gofal Cymdeithasol (Cymru) 2016(‘Deddf 2016’)a’r rheoliadau ynghlwm â hi,yn gosod gofynion cymesur a phriodol ar ddarparwyr gwasanaethau ac unigolion cyfrifol i sicrhau bod darpariaeth gwasanaethau o safon y gellir ei harddangos, ac yn rhannu’r un amcanion o ddiwallu anghenion unigolion a hyrwyddo llesiant. Mae’r datganiad hwn yn darparu diweddariad ynghylch y camau diweddar o’r gwaith o weithredu Deddf 2016 yn raddol.


### **Cofrestru gwasanaethau rheoleiddiedig**


Rhagwelwyd yn wreiddiol y byddai’r system newydd o reoleiddio gwasanaethau yn cael ei rhoi ar waith ac yn weithredol ar gyfer yr holl wasanaethau rheoleiddiedig erbyn mis Ebrill 2019\. Ar gyfer gwasanaethau Cam 2 – cartrefi gofal, llety diogel, canolfannau preswyl i deuluoedd a gwasanaethau cymorth cartref – daeth rheoliadau i rym ym mis Chwefror a mis Ebrill 2018\. Ers hynny, mae Arolygiaeth Gofal Cymru (AGC) wedi ailgofrestru dros 1,300 o oddeutu 1,750 o wasanaethau, gyda’r gweddill i’w cwblhau erbyn diwedd Mehefin.


Mae’r arolygiaeth wedi gweithio’n helaeth gyda darparwyr i sicrhau bod eu ceisiadau (ac felly’r wybodaeth sydd gan AGC ar gyfer eu cofrestru a’u harolygu) wedi’u cwblhau’n gywir ac yn llawn, ac felly’n hwyluso eu llwybr i ailgofrestru yn y pen draw. Cafodd rheoliadau cyfatebol yn gosod y safonau sy’n ofynnol o wasanaethau Cam 3 – lleoli oedolion, gwasanaethau eiriolaeth statudol, maethu a mabwysiadu plant – eu pasio gan y Cynulliad hwn yn gynharach eleni a daethant i rym ar 29 Ebrill. Cyn belled bod y gwasanaethau hyn yn ailymgeisio i gofrestru – neu yn achos gwasanaethau eiriolaeth, yn gwneud cais am y tro cyntaf – erbyn 31 Awst, mae AGC yn rhagweld y bydd cofrestriadau’n cael eu penderfynu erbyn diwedd y flwyddyn galendr hon.


### **Gwasanaethau maethu a mabwysiadu awdurdodau lleol**


Gan nad yw gwasanaethau maethu a mabwysiadu awdurdodau lleol yn ‘wasanaethau rheoleiddiedig’ o fewn ystyr Deddf 2016, ni fydd angen iddynt gofrestru gydag AGC ond byddant yn parhau i gael eu harolygu ganddynt. Fodd bynnag, mae wedi bod yn amcan polisi gennym i weithredu’r un safonau, i’r graddau y bo’n briodol, ar draws gwasanaethau rheoleiddiedig a gwasanaethau awdurdodau lleol. I gyflawni hyn, rydym wedi defnyddio pwerau o dan Ddeddf 2014 a Deddf Mabwysiadu a Phlant 2002, yn y drefn honno, i osod gofynion cyfatebol ar y gwasanaethau hyn. Rwy’n hyderus, drwy’r gofynion craidd yr ydym wedi’u rhoi ar waith – gan gynnwys y rhai hynny sy’n ymwneud â llywodraethu gwasanaethau, y ffordd y cânt eu cynnal, sut y dylid eu staffio a sut maent yn cefnogi ac yn diogelu pobl – ar gyfer gwasanaethau rheoleiddiedig a gwasanaethau awdurdod lleol, ein bod wedi cyflawni’r dull gweithredu cyson a ddymunir, gan nodi a gwneud addasiadau er mwyn sicrhau bod pob set o reoliadau yn darparu’r ateb gorau ar gyfer y gwasanaeth penodol. 


### **Atebolrwydd am wasanaethau rheoleiddiedig**


Mae Deddf 2016 a rheoliadau cysylltiedig yn gosod dyletswyddau a chyfrifoldebau clir ar berchnogion gwasanaethau rheoleiddiedig yn rhinwedd eu swyddogaeth fel darparwyr ac fel cyflogwyr yn y sector gofal a chymorth. Maent hefyd yn gofyn am ddynodi ‘unigolyn cyfrifol’ ar gyfer pob gwasanaeth, a fydd yn gorfod bodloni meini prawf cymhwyster ac yn destun dyletswyddau uniongyrchol i sicrhau rheolaeth a goruchwyliaeth effeithiol o’r gwasanaeth; sicrhau cydymffurfiaeth y gwasanaeth (yn enwedig o ran cadw cofnodion a pholisïau a gweithdrefnau) ac arwain ar fonitro, adolygu a gwella ansawdd y gwasanaeth. Yn y cyfamser, mae rheolwyr gwasanaeth, sydd i gael eu cofrestru gyda Gofal Cymdeithasol Cymru (GCC), yn cadw’r cyfrifoldeb dros redeg gwasanaethau o ddydd i ddydd. Mae’r rhain yn nodweddion pwysig wrth symud atebolrwydd cyfreithiol am berfformiad cyffredinol a diogelwch gwasanaethau rheoleiddiedig tuag at ddarparwyr a phenderfynwyr allweddol, yn hytrach na’r rhai sy’n darparu gofal a chymorth, o unigolyn i unigolyn.


Mae’r rheoliadau’n cymryd agwedd gymesur ac, i’r graddau y mae hynny’n bosibl, agwedd gynhwysol at greu troseddau ar gyfer yr holl wasanaethau rheoleiddiedig , gan sicrhau y gall gwasanaethau eu deall ac y gall AGC eu gorfodi. Mae’r rheoliadau yn diffinio pa dramgwyddau a fydd yn drosedd yn awtomatig a’r rhai lle gall trosedd gael ei chyflawni os ydynt yn arwain at achosion lle mae pobl yn agored i niwed y gellir ei osgoi, colli arian neu eiddo. Mae llawer ohonynt yn ailadrodd neu’n addasu troseddau presennol ac, yn seiliedig ar ddata diweddar a dull gorfodi AGC – fel yr amlinellwyd yn eu polisi Sicrhau Gwelliant a Gorfodi – rydym yn rhagweld mai dewis olaf fydd dwyn darparwyr ac unigolion cyfrifol i gyfrif. Bydd Rheoliadau Gwasanaethau Rheoleiddiedig (Hysbysiadau Cosb) (Cymru) 2019, a osodwyd gerbron y Cynulliad yr wythnos diwethaf, yn cynnig opsiwn gorfodi arall ac yn gweithredu fel dull ataliol pellach. O fis Gorffennaf 2019, bydd y rhain yn disodli rheoliadau a wnaed yn 2017 ac yn ymestyn opsiwn AGC i ddyfarnu cosb yn hytrach na mynd ar drywydd erlyniad am rai troseddau i bob gwasanaeth rheoleiddiedig.


### **Y camau nesaf**


Gan fod elfennau gweithredol hanfodol Deddf 2016 yn eu lle bellach, bydd gwaith yn parhau gydag AGC, GCC, darparwyr a dinasyddion i weithredu’r fframwaith, gan gynnwys gwneud unrhyw ddiwygiadau angenrheidiol i sicrhau ein hamcanion polisi yng ngoleuni profiad neu gyfeiriad y gwaith. Wedi ailsefydlu systemau effeithiol ac ymatebol ar gyfer rheoleiddio ac arolygu tua 1,800 o wasanaethau a’u gweithlu (dros 60,000 o bobl), bydd hyn yn cymryd amser i ymsefydlu, ond mae’r gwaith sydd wedi digwydd dros y tair blynedd diwethaf a mwy, ar y cyd â rheoleiddwyr a rhanddeiliaid allweddol, wedi rhoi sicrwydd i mi ein bod wedi adeiladu sylfaen gydlynol a chadarn i weithredu arni. Rwyf hefyd yn hyderus ein bod wedi sefydlu system sydd yn ddigon hyblyg i ganiatáu cynnwys gwasanaethau a modelau gofal a chymorth newydd oddi mewn i’r maes rheoleiddio, pan a phryd y bydd angen hynny. 


Maes o law, bydd mecanweithiau adrodd sydd wedi’u cynnwys yn Neddf 2016, gan gynnwys datganiadau blynyddol gan ddarparwyr gwasanaethau (o fis Mai 2020\) ac adroddiadau blynyddol gan AGC a GCC, yn rhoi syniad o sut mae’r newidiadau a ragwelwyd wrth ddatblygu a gweithredu’r Ddeddf yn cael eu cyflwyno. Bydd gan Lywodraeth Cymru ddiddordeb mawr yn y ffynonellau hyn, yn gwneud y defnydd gorau o’r wybodaeth a gyflwynir, a, lle nodir hynny, yn cymryd camau priodol ac amserol, gan hysbysu Aelodau’n rheolaidd.  


Rwyf am i’r sector cyfan sianelu ymdrechion i gyfathrebu’r newidiadau allweddol i’r ddeddfwriaeth a’r system i’r cyhoedd, fel bod gan bobl sy’n derbyn gofal a chymorth, a’u teuluoedd, neu’r rhai sy’n dymuno dewis eu gwasanaethau gofal cymdeithasol, well syniad o’r hyn y gallant ac y dylent ei ddisgwyl. O 2021, rydym hefyd yn bwriadu defnyddio pwerau o fewn Deddf 2016 i gyflwyno system sgorio gadarn ond teg a chyson ar gyfer gwasanaethau rheoleiddiedig, fel rhan o’r broses arolygu, er mwyn sicrhau tryloywder pellach ac annog gwelliant. Mae cryfhau llais a rheolaeth yn gonglfaen y fframwaith cyfreithiol a roddwyd ar waith gennym, a bydd codi ymwybyddiaeth o’r hawliau oddi tano yn helpu i sicrhau hyn.


Hoffwn ddiolch i’r rheoleiddwyr, y rhanddeiliaid a’r aelodau am gyfrannu eu harbenigedd yn y meysydd hyn. Mae hyn wedi dylanwadu’n sylweddol ar ddatblygiad y rheoliadau a’r canllawiau neu godau ymarfer cysylltiedig sydd bellach ar waith. Rwyf hefyd yn canmol AGC am lwyddiant ei gweithgarwch gweithredu ei hun \- digido cofrestriad; ail\-gysoni fframweithiau arolygu a gorfodi; ailhyfforddi arolygwyr, a’u parodrwydd i wneud hynny, a’r cymorth helaeth a gynigiwyd i ddarparwyr wrth eu paratoi ar gyfer cofrestru a rheoleiddio parhaus o dan Ddeddf 2016\.


Mae’r Hyb Gwybodaeth a Dysgu, sy’n cael ei gynnal gan GCC, yn cynnig mynediad i adnoddau’n ymwneud â deddfwriaeth gofal cymdeithasol yng Nghymru ac mae’n cynnwys dolenni i’r rheoleiddiadau, canllawiau a chodau ymarfer a wnaed o dan y ddwy Ddeddf.


https://gofalcymdeithasol.cymru/hyb/rheoleiddio\-ac\-arolygu


https://gofalcymdeithasol.cymru/hyb/deddf\-sswb