Health and Social Care Committee report
Published on 18 July 2013 01:30 PM
Age Cymru has welcomed recommendations made today (18 July 2013) by the National Assembly's Health and Social Care Committee about the Social Services and Wellbeing (Wales) Bill.
Age Cymru's Policy Advisor Amy Clifton says:
"Age Cymru welcomes the Health and Social Care Committee's assessment that the definition of an ‘adult at risk of abuse' is currently too narrow in the Bill.
"We back the Committee's recommendation that the Deputy Minister needs to consider an alternative definition of ‘adult at risk of abuse'.
"This definition also needs to be extended to include people who suffer ‘coercive control' and are forced to do things against their will by their spouse or partner.
"We are pleased that the Committee has suggested that the Deputy Minister provides more detail of people who will be entitled to receive independent advocacy under the Bill.
"Age Cymru agrees that further clarity is needed on this as independent advocacy services are important in helping to make sure our wishes are followed and our voices are heard at times when we may be vulnerable.
"The issue of who is eligible to receive social care services is absolutely central to the success of this Bill.
"This is why Age Cymru supports the Committee's view that regulations relating to eligibility criteria are subject to robust scrutiny with a super affirmative procedure.
"We also back the view that people who currently receive social care services should not find themselves worse off under new arrangements.
"The Committee report provides many positive recommendations which we feel will strengthen and improve the Bill, and Age Cymru looks forward to the Welsh Government's response."
Read our full response here.