(1)A local authority must make arrangements to promote co-operation between—
(a)the local authority,
(b)each of the authority’s relevant partners in the exercise of—
(i)their functions relating to adults with needs for care and support or to adults who are carers, and
(ii)their other functions the exercise of which is relevant to the functions referred to in sub-paragraph (i), and
(c)such other persons or bodies as the authority considers appropriate, being persons or bodies of any nature who or which exercise functions or are engaged in activities in relation to—
(i)adults within the authority’s area with needs for care and support, or
(ii)adults within the authority’s area who are carers.
(2)A local authority must also make arrangements to promote co-operation between the officers of the authority who exercise its functions.
(3)The arrangements under subsections (1) and (2) are to be made with a view to—
(a)improving the well-being of—
(i)adults within the authority’s area with needs for care and support, and
(ii)adults within the authority’s area who are carers;
(b)improving the quality of care and support for adults, and of support for adults who are carers, provided in the authority’s area (including the outcomes that are achieved from such provision);
(c)protecting adults with needs for care and support who are experiencing, or are at risk of, abuse or neglect.
(4)For the purposes of this section each of the following is a relevant partner of a local authority—
(a)the local policing body and the chief officer of police for a police area any part of which falls within the area of the local authority;
(b)any other local authority with which the authority agrees that it would be appropriate to co-operate under this section;
(c)the Secretary of State to the extent that the Secretary of State is discharging functions under sections 2 and 3 of the Offender Management Act 2007 in relation to Wales;
(d)any provider of probation services that is required by arrangements under section 3(2) of the Offender Management Act 2007 to act as a relevant partner of the authority;
(e)a Local Health Board for an area any part of which falls within the area of the authority;
(f)an NHS trust providing services in the area of the authority;
(g)the Welsh Ministers to the extent that they are discharging functions under Part 2 of the Learning and Skills Act 2000;
(h)such a person, or a person of such description, as regulations may specify.
(5)Regulations under subsection (4)(h) may not specify a Minister of the Crown or the governor of a prison (or, in the case of a contracted out prison, its director) unless the Secretary of State consents.
(6)The relevant partners of a local authority must co-operate with the authority in the making of arrangements under this section.
(7)A local authority and any of its relevant partners may for the purposes of arrangements under this section—
(a)provide staff, goods, services, accommodation or other resources;
(b)establish and maintain a pooled fund;
(c)share information with each other.
(8)For the purposes of subsection (7) a pooled fund is a fund—
(a)which is made up of contributions by the authority and the relevant partner or partners concerned, and
(b)out of which payments may be made towards expenditure incurred in the discharge of functions of the authority and functions of the relevant partner or partners.
(9)A local authority and each of its relevant partners must, in exercising their functions under this section, have regard to any guidance given to them for the purpose by the Welsh Ministers.
(10)The Welsh Ministers must consult the Secretary of State before giving guidance under subsection (9).
(11)In this section—
(a)a reference to a prison includes a young offender institution;
(b)a reference to a contracted out prison has the meaning given by section 84(4) of the Criminal Justice Act 1991.