Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014

The Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 (‘the Act’) brings together local authorities’ duties and functions in relation to improving the well-being of people who need care and support, and carers who need support. The Act provides the foundation, along with regulations and codes of practice made under it, to a statutory framework for the delivery of social care in Wales to support people of all ages as part of their families and communities.

The fundamental principles of the Act are:

• Voice and control – putting the individual and their needs, at the centre of their care, and giving them a voice in, and control over reaching the outcomes that help them achieve well-being
• Prevention and early intervention – increasing preventative services within the community to minimise the escalation of critical need
• Well-being – supporting people to achieve their own well-being and measuring the success of care and support
• Co-production – encouraging individuals to become more involved in the design and delivery of services

Detailed commentary on the various provisions of the Act is provided in the Explanatory Notes to the Act.

• Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014: Explanatory Notes ar legislation.gov.uk

Read the full Act:

•  Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 on legislation.gov.uk

Part 1 and sections 196 to 200 came into force on 2 May 2014, which is the day after the Act received Royal Assent, in accordance with section 199(1).

The remaining provisions of the Act come into force on a day appointed by the Welsh Ministers by order, in accordance with section 199(2):

• Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014, section 199 on legislation.gov.uk

The following Orders have been made:

• The Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 (Commencement No. 3, Savings and Transitional Provisions) Order 2016 on legislation.gov.uk
• The Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 (Commencement No. 2) Order 2015 on legislation.gov.uk
• The Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 (Commencement No. 1) Order 2014 on legislation.gov.uk

In addition, the UK Government made this Order:

The Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 and the Regulation and Inspection of Social Care (Wales) Act 2016 (Consequential Amendments) Order 2017 on legislation.gov.uk

Codes of Practice

Codes of practice have been issued under Part 8 of the 2014 Act in accordance with sections 145 and 146. Section 145 specifies that when exercising their social services functions, local authorities must act in accordance with any relevant requirements contained in a code and have regard to any relevant guidelines contained in it.

Section 146 of the 2014 Act specifies the procedure for the issue, approval and revocation of codes issued by the Welsh Ministers. Section 146(4)(b) requires that the Welsh Ministers appoint a date by Order for the coming into force of a code or revised code of practice issued under this Part.

• Part 2 Code of Practice (General Functions)
• Part 3 Code of Practice (Assessing the Needs of Individuals)
• Part 4 Code of Practice (Meeting Needs)  
• Part 4 and 5 Code of Practice (Charging and Financial Assessment)
• Part 6 Code of Practice (Looked After and Accommodated Children)
• Part 8 Code of Practice on the Role of the Director of Social Services (Social Services Functions)
• Part 10 Code of Practice (Advocacy)
• Part 11 Code of Practice (Miscellaneous and General)
• Code of Practice on Measuring Social Services Performance

Appointed Day Orders

These Orders are made in accordance with section 146(4)(a) of the 2014 Act.

• The Social Services Codes (Appointed Day) (Wales) Order 2016 on legislation.gov.uk
• The Social Services Code (Role of the Director of Social Services) (Appointed Day) (Wales) Order 2016 on legislation.gov.uk
• The Revised Code of Practice on the exercise of social services functions in relation to Part 4 (direct payments and choice of accommodation) and Part 5 (charging and financial assessment) of the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 (Appointed Day) (Wales) Order 2017 on legislation.gov.uk
• The Revised Codes of Practice on the exercise of social services functions in relation to Parts 4 and 5 and Part 6 of the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 (Appointed Day) (Wales) Order 2018 on legislation.gov.uk 
• The Special Guardianship Code (Appointed Day) (Wales) Order 2018 on legislation.gov.uk
• The Revised Code of Practice on the exercise of social services functions in relation to Part 4 (direct payments and choice of accommodation) and Part 5 (charging and financial assessment) of the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 (Appointed Day) Order 2019 on legislation.gov.uk
• The Code of Practice for Local Authority Adoption Services (Appointed Day) (Wales) Order 2019 on legislation.gov.uk

Statutory Guidance

Statutory Guidance has been issued in relation to Part 7 of the 2014 Act:

• Working Together to Safeguard People: Volume 1 – Introduction and Overview
• Working Together to Safeguard People: Volume 2 – Child Practice Reviews
• Working Together to Safeguard People: Volume 3 – Adult Practice Reviews 
• Working Together to Safeguard People: Volume 4 – Adult Protection and Support Orders
• Working Together to Safeguard People: Volume 5 – Handling Individual Cases to Protect Children at Risk
• Working Together to Safeguard People: Volume 6 – Handling Individual Cases to Protect Adults at Risk

Statutory Guidance has been issued in relation to Part 9 of the 2014 Act:

• Part 9 Statutory Guidance (Partnership Arrangements)

The Bill was introduced on 28 January 2013 by Gwenda Thomas AM, who was the Deputy Minister for Social Services at the time. The Bill was passed by Senedd Cymru (known then as National Assembly for Wales) on 18 March 2014:

More information about the Bill and its passage through the Senedd on senedd.wales.

The Explanatory Memorandum that was prepared by the Welsh Government (as amended after Stage 2):

• Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014: Explanatory Memorandum on senedd.wales

The Act received Royal Assent on 1 May 2014.