Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act
The Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act came into force in April 2016. This law gives you a say in the care and support you receive.
To support you to achieve well-being, you will make decisions about your care in partnership with professionals. To help you to do so, you have easy access to information and advice about what is available in your area.
Carers have an equal right to be assessed for support, to those that they care for, and more people are entitled to Direct Payments.
The assessment process for care and support is based on what matters to you as an individual, this is undertaken by our Single Point Of Access Team. An advisor in the team will have a conversation with you about your personal strengths and the support available to you from your family, friends and others in the community.
Single Point of Access (SPoA) for adults in Denbighshire (PDF, 292KB)
The assessment is simpler and can be carried out by one person on behalf of a range of organisations.
There are now more services to prevent problems getting worse, so the right help is available when you need it.
Stronger powers to keep people safe from abuse or neglect has also been introduced.
What the Act does
The Act has transformed the way social services are being delivered, in supporting people to achieve well-being and independence by promoting greater choice and control.
Integration and simplification of the law also provides greater consistency and clarity to:
- people who use social services
- their carers
- local authority staff and their partner organisations
- the courts and the judiciary
The Act promotes equality, improves the quality of services and enhances access to the provision of information people receive. It also encourages a renewed focus on prevention and early intervention.
Find out more about the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act on the UK Legislation website (external website).
Social Care Wales video: "What matters to you - matters to us" (external website).