Mark Drakeford AM

Minster for Health and Social Services

National Assembly for Wales

Cardiff Bay

CF99 1NA

5 February 2016

Dear Minister,

Re: Regulation and Inspection of Social Care (Wales) Act 2016

I am delighted that the Regulation and Inspection of Social Care (Wales) Act 2016 has received Royal Ascent as the regulation and inspection of social care matters to older people and has a clear impact on their quality of life.

As part of my ongoing scrutiny of the Act and as part of my statutory function to review the adequacy and effectiveness of the law affecting the interests of older people in Wales, I am looking forward to engaging in early discussions to shape the secondary legislation that will be drafted to accompany the Act.  As I have previously stated, the Requirements for Action made in my Care Home Review were drafted in such a way so that they could be taken forward by this legislation and therefore I will want to see the relevant Requirements for Action reflected within the secondary legislation.  My office will be requesting a meeting with the lead official in this area to ensure close working and I will share my scrutiny of the underpinning regulations with the next Health & Social Care Committee. 

To ensure that my scrutiny is most effective, I would be grateful if you could provide me with a timeline for the drafting of the regulations, including when a public consultation will be undertaken and a date for the publication of the Explanatory Notes to accompany the Act.  Additionally, I will be providing the Health & Social Care Committee with a timeline to consolidate the action underway to take forward my Requirements for Action in my Care Home Review, including those to be implemented through the RISC Act.   

Yours sincerely,

Sarah Rochira

Older People’s Commissioner for Wales

C.C. Albert Heaney, Director of Social Services, Children & Families

C.C. David Rees AM, Chair, Health & Social Care Committee