Welsh best practice body on the way

The development of a specialist unit for improving Welsh social
services is a step closer after ministers gave it their initial
backing.

Welsh assembly health and social care minister Brian Gibbons, and
new children’s minister Jane Hutt, were told of the plans to
develop the unit by the Welsh Local Government Association at a
meeting last week.

The WLGA wants assembly backing and funding for the unit, which
would be based within the WLGA and work with authorities to improve
social services, disseminate best practice around the country, and
increase the leadership capacity of local government.

Beverlea Frowen, head of health and well-being at the WLGA, said
the unit would play a key role in the new blueprint for Welsh
social services. It will include plans for some services to be
organised regionally, councils to share workers and increased
investment in front-line social workers .

Frowen said ministers had welcomed news of the unit. Graham
Williams, chief inspector of Social Services Inspectorate Wales,
described the meeting as “constructive” and said ministers were
monitoring the plans’ development.

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