The Partnership Arrangements (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2017

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

Section 166 of the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 (“the 2014 Act”) enables the Welsh Ministers to make regulations requiring the making of partnership arrangements by combinations of local authorities and Local Health Boards.

The Partnership Arrangements (Wales) Regulations 2015 (“the principal Regulations”) have been made under the powers in section 166 and came into force on 6 April 2016. The principal Regulations require the making of partnership arrangements by specified local authorities and Local Health Boards under the direction of Regional Partnership Boards. The principal Regulations also specify the local authority and Local Health Board functions that are to be carried out by the partnership arrangements.

These Regulations amend the principal Regulations to add the functions under section 14A of the 2014 Act to the list of Local Health Board functions which are specified to be carried out by the partnership arrangements.

The Regulations also amend regulation 19 of the principal Regulations (establishment and maintenance of pooled funds) by omitting regulation 19(1)(c) and adding a new regulation 19(1A) which requires partnership bodies to consider whether it is appropriate to establish and maintain a pooled fund if they decide to do things jointly in response to an assessment under section 14 of the 2014 Act (known as a population assessment).

They also amend Schedule 2 to the principal Regulations (which specifies the family support functions of integrated family support teams) to insert reference to functions under Part 6 of the 2014 Act, in so far as they relate to the meeting of needs for care and support of children who are looked after by a local authority and the provision of advice and support for young people leaving care. This amendment corrects an omission from Schedule 2.

The Welsh Ministers’ Code of Practice on the carrying out of Regulatory Impact Assessments was considered in relation to these Regulations. As a result, a regulatory impact assessment has been prepared as to the likely costs and benefits of complying with these Regulations. A copy can be obtained from the Department of Health and Social Services, Welsh Government, Cathays Park, Cardiff, CF10 3NQ.