The Integrated Family Support Teams (Composition of Teams and Board Functions) (Wales) Regulations 2012

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations make requirements about the professional categories from which the workers who are members of an integrated family support (“IFS”) team must be drawn. These Regulations also set out what an IFS board must do to meet the objectives conferred on it by section 62 of the Children and Families (Wales) Measure 2010 (“the 2010 Measure”).

Section 57 of the 2010 Measure imposes a duty on local authorities to establish one or more IFS teams. These Regulations apply to local authority areas in relation to which section 57 has been commenced and which have a duty to establish an IFS team. On the date these Regulations are brought into force section 57 is in force in relation to the following local authority areas: Merthyr Tydfil, Newport, Rhondda Cynon Taff, Wrexham, Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan (see the Children and Families (Wales) Measure 2010 (Commencement) Order 2010 and the Children and Families (Wales) Measure 2010 (Commencement No. 4) Order 2012).

Regulation 2 requires that an IFS team must contain a core of five professionals drawn from three professions: social work, nursing and health visiting. Each profession must be represented in the team. In addition the social worker, or, where there is more than one social worker, at least one of them, must be a consultant social worker, as defined in regulation 1.

Regulation 3 requires the IFS team to have suitable skills and experience having regard to the types of cases that are to be referred to it, to guidance that the Welsh Ministers may issue and to the need of the professional members of the IFS team for administrative support.

Regulation 4 sets out the functions an IFS board must perform in meeting its objectives as set out in section 62(1) of the 2010 Measure.

Regulation 5 revokes the Integrated Family Support Teams (Composition of Teams and Board Functions) (Wales) Regulations 2010 (S.I. 2010/1690) (W.159).

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 Directorate of Health, Social Services and Children, Welsh Government, Cathays Park, Cardiff, CF10 3NQ.