How are health and social care integrated in Wales?
Introduction
The integration between health and social care is crucial to ensuring people receive coordinated and holistic support to meet their needs. When someone needs health or social care, the support they receive should be seamless and fully integrated, so they experience the same level of care regardless of which service is meeting their needs. Integration is vital to address the growing challenges facing the NHS and social care services, including an ageing population, an increasing number of people living with chronic conditions and rising demand on health and social care services.
In Wales there are various strategies, pieces of legislation, programmes and initiatives that aim to foster closer collaboration between health and social care sectors, including the Social Services and Well-being Act 2014, Regional Partnership Boards (RPBs), A Healthier Wales, the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 and a range of funding mechanisms.
This explainer outlines the crucial ways health and social care are integrated in Wales. To learn more about what social care is, who it’s for and how it’s provided see the guide developed by Social Care Wales, the Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) and the Association of Directors of Social Services (ADSS) Cymru.
How are health and social care integrated?
The integration of health and social care is an ongoing process, with the aim of providing seamless, person-centred care that meets a person’s needs. In Wales, there are several key pieces of legislation, strategies and initiatives in place to facilitate this. This includes:
How does digital support integration across health and social care services?
Digital technologies are crucial for enabling seamless interaction across health and social care services. Digital Health and Care Wales (DHCW) plays a key role in providing national digital and data services and works in partnership with NHS organisations and other key stakeholders to provide national digital and data services that support the delivery of health and social care in Wales.
The Connecting Care programme in Wales is a major initiative designed to deliver the next generation of digital solutions for community, mental health and social services. It is an ambitious effort to integrate information and supports health and social care professionals to deliver safer, more efficient and more joined-up care for the people of Wales. The programme is delivered in partnership with DHCW, the ADSS Cymru and RPBs, which act on behalf of the seven health boards and 22 local authorities in Wales.
The Digital in Social Care (DiSC) Cymru Framework is a national partnership to help social care organisations across Wales leverage digital, data and technology to improve outcomes for service users, their families and the workforce.
How are health and social care monitored and regulated?
In Wales, the regulation of health and social care is shared across several statutory bodies and frameworks to ensure quality, safety, and accountability.
What workforce plans are in place to deliver integrated working between health and social care?
The delivery of health and social care is completely dependent on our workforce who work in a range of statutory, private or third sector provider services, as well as volunteers and unpaid carers. A number of strategies are in place aimed at supporting and developing the workforce needed, including:
- A Healthier Wales: Our Workforce Strategy for Health and Social Care: Following the publication of A Healthier Wales, Social Care Wales and Health Education and Improvement Wales (HEIW) worked together to develop and publish an overarching strategy for both health and social care workforces in Wales, A Healthier Wales: Our Workforce Strategy for Health and Social Care. The 10-year strategy was launched in October 2020 and sets out the ambition to have a motivated, engaged and valued health and social care workforce with the capacity, competence and confidence to meet the needs of the people of Wales.
- Progressing the 10-year workforce strategy for health and social care: In January 2025, HEIW and Social Care Wales set out their priorities for phase two of A Healthier Wales, our workforce strategy for health and social care. It outlines a series of practical actions to act as enablers to accelerate the 10-year vision of the workforce strategy.
- Social Care Workforce Delivery Plan 2024-2027: First published in June 2024, this plan builds on A Healthier Wales: Our Workforce Strategy for Health and Social Care. The plan was published by Social Care Wales in collaboration with the Welsh Government and translates the ambitions of the overarching strategy into specific actions. While it covers the entire social care sector in Wales (local authorities, independent providers and those integrated with NHS Wales), the plan focuses on seven key themes, which are:
- an engaged, motivated and healthy workforce: Focusing on wellbeing, fair reward and recognition.
- attraction and recruitment: Aiming to positively change how the public views careers in social care and to attract a diverse workforce.
- seamless workforce models: Improving integrated working.
- building a digitally-ready workforce: Enhancing digital skills.
- excellent education and learning: Supporting professional development.
- leadership and succession: Developing leaders within the sector.
- workforce supply and shape: Addressing recruitment and retention.
How does the third sector support health and social care?
The third sector provides significant support to people across Wales to ensure they receive the care and support they need to remain living independently in their home and community. A core function of the third sector is to provide early intervention and preventative support to improve people's wellbeing and reduce or delay their need for intensive, statutory social care services.
Third sector support significantly bolsters social care through direct service provision, advocacy and complementary support. Many organisations directly offer care for diverse groups, run community initiatives (including community transport) and provide respite for unpaid carers. They also act as a vital voice for service users and unpaid carers, advocating for their rights and raising awareness about social care issues.
Third Sector Support Wales, which incorporates the Wales Council for Voluntary Action (WCVA) and local County Voluntary Councils (CVCs), supports the broader third sector, while numerous specific charities and groups address particular needs. Platforms like Dewis Cymru act as central hubs for information and advice on wellbeing, connecting people with various services including those provided by the third sector. Ultimately, the third sector acts as a crucial partner, complementing statutory services and striving to improve the overall wellbeing of individuals and communities in Wales.
Why is it important that health and social care services work together?
It is vital that health and social care services work closely together. There are a number of crucial areas in which integration supports the people of Wales:
In essence, a well-integrated, adequately funded and resourced social care sector is vital to the wellbeing and independence of people in Wales and acts as a vital partner to the NHS by helping manage demand, improving patient flow and enhancing the overall health and wellbeing of the population in Wales.
Summary
The integration of health and social care in Wales is multifaceted and driven by strategic policies, collaborative structures and funding models. By prioritising person-centredness and fostering greater collaboration, the integration between health and social care aims to create a system that supports broader wellbeing and independence within communities. This ongoing journey towards integration is essential for navigating the increasing complexities of care provision and ensuring the best possible outcomes for the people of Wales.
