Non‑statutory guidance for public services boards and regional partnership boards: Assessments, data and evidence - Context

This guidance supports Public Services Boards (PSBs) and Regional Partnership Boards (RPBs) as they prepare their statutory assessments under 2 separate Acts. PSBs complete well-being assessments under the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015, and RPBs complete Population Needs Assessments (PNAs) under the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014. Although these duties originate from different legislation, both require balanced evidence, meaningful involvement and consideration of longer-term needs through future trends.

Partners have told us that the landscape can feel complex, with overlap across themes, evidence requirements and engagement activity.

This non-statutory guidance aims to provide clarity within this shared space, offering practical suggestions to help PSBs and RPBs align work where appropriate, while still meeting the distinct statutory requirements of each Act. It is intended for board members, board coordinators, analysts, engagement leads and anyone contributing to the evidence that informs the assessments.

This guidance is intended to support you to:

• build shared evidence base where it makes sense to do so
• coordinate engagement with communities and partners
• take a consistent and proportionate approach to analysis
• support consistent use of high quality and recognised data sources
•  explicitly  link evidence and decisions, and
• support clearer, more coherent assessments across your region

Welsh Government recognise that regions differ in size and partnership structures. This guidance does not mandate a single joint assessment; PSBs and RPBs retain their autonomy to complete individual assessments where this is in their best interest.

This guidance should be read as supporting an ongoing cycle of assessment, planning, delivery and review, rather than a standalone or one‑off exercise. Assessments are expected to build on the evidence, learning and priorities identified in previous well‑being assessments, well‑being plans, Population Needs Assessments and Area Plans, deepening understanding over time and responding to emerging trends rather than re‑starting analysis at each cycle.