Minister says third sector is a key partner in the delivery of health and social care

The Minister said: ‘The First Minister, myself, and my cabinet
colleagues have all put on record many times the value that we
place on the third sector as an absolutely key partner – not just
for the important role you play in representing and supporting some
of our most vulnerable and disadvantaged citizens, and not just for
the role you play in challenging us and holding us to account as a
government, but also for the support you provide both in the
development of, and – increasingly over the past 20 years of
devolution – in the delivery of, Welsh Government policy across a
range of areas.’ 

‘Business as usual’ not an option

Attended by 145 people, the purpose of the conference was to
open up a cross-sector discussion about how to maximise the third
sector’s contribution to ‘A Healthier Wales’.

The third sector is written into the fabric of the new strategy,
which places the paid and unpaid workforce and carers on an equal
footing with the public sector. New approaches to implementation
make clear Welsh Government’s vision for a transformational
approach – for example, the statutory involvement of third sector
members on the seven Regional Partnership Boards, and the
requirement for a minimum of 20% of the Integrated Care Fund
revenue funding to be allocated to support social value
organisations.

Ruth Marks, WCVA Chief Executive, chaired the conference and
said: ‘By co-hosting this conference with WCVA, Welsh Government is
making clear that ‘business as usual’ is not an option and the
third sector is rightly credited as vital to the health and social
care infrastructure in Wales. With over 10% of third sector
organisations in Wales active in the field of health and social
care, and the sector accounting for the highest rates of paid
employment by sector, we are already working on a daily basis
alongside public sector health and care professionals, contributing
our unique social values base of working co-productively with
people to meet their individual needs in the most rounded way
possible.’

The conference heard from third sector colleagues who are
involved in the influential Regional Partnership Boards about the
challenges and opportunities they foresee, and Social Care Wales
provided information on the new health and social care workforce
strategy. Workshops were designed around the ten national design
principles to drive change and transformation inA Healthier Wales,
sharing information and ideas to strengthen the personal and
professional relationships that are critical success factors, and
showcasing third sector good practice in social prescribing,
volunteering, social value forums, self-management of chronic
conditions and co-production.  

Key messages about how third sector involvement in health and
social care can be supported and promoted were captured from each
workshop. This feedback is being analysed following the
conference.