Gweithgarwch Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol: Ebrill 2023 i Fawrth 2024 (Ystadegau Swyddogol mewn datblygiad)

This annual statistical release presents figures about the activity of local authority social services across Wales.

The Code of Practice in relation to performance and improvement of social services in Wales issued on 1 April 2020 introduced a new performance and improvement framework for social services in Wales. It detailed a set of data metrics under the ‘Measuring Activity and Performance’ section to be provided by local authorities. This is the fourth time these metrics have been collected and published.

Data collection was based on detailed guidance to aim to ensure coherence within and across local authorities.

Data included in this release and further information for individual local authorities is published on the Social Services Performance and Improvement Framework page on StatsWales.

Adults

During the year 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024

• 125,112 contacts were received by statutory social services for information, advice and assistance (IAA) services for adults who were not receiving care and support, or support (as a carer) at the time of the contact.^{[footnote 1]}
• 69,676 new assessments were completed for adults who did not already have a care and support plan. Where recorded, 48% of assessments concluded the adult had eligible needs which could be met without a care and support plan.
• 9,327 packages of reablement were completed by adults. 86% of completed packages reduced, maintained or mitigated the need for support following the period of reablement.
• 25,492 reports of an adult suspected of being at risk (of abuse or neglect) were received. Where the category of alleged abuse was provided, 34% of reports alleged abuse under the category of neglect (more than one category may be suspected in a report).^{[footnote 2]}
• 15,517 reports of an adult suspected of being at risk resulted in the need for enquiries to be made. 83% of enquiries were completed within seven working days. 30% of enquiries determined that additional action should be taken.
• 11,281 adults with a care and support plan paid the maximum weekly charge towards the cost of non-residential care.^{[footnote 1]}

On 31 March 2024

• 48,519 adults had a care and support plan. Of which, 13% had a care and support plan supported using a Direct Payment.

Children

During the year 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024

• 246,454 contacts were received by statutory social services for information, advice and assistance (IAA) services for children who were not receiving care and support at the time of the contact.
• 48,355 new assessments were completed for children who did not already have a care and support plan. Where recorded, 61% of assessments concluded the child had eligible needs which could be met without a care and support plan.
• 83% of new assessments completed for children were completed within the statutory timescale of 42 working days from the point of referral. This ranged from 61% to nearly 100% with seven local authorities at 90% or above.
• 4,003 children were added to the Child Protection Register. Of which, 8% had been previously registered at any time during the previous 12 months.  were added under the category of emotional abuse. 4,171 children were removed from the Child Protection Register.
• 302 care leavers experienced homelessness (as defined by the Housing (Wales) Act 2014 (UK legislation)).

On 31 March 2024

• 19,803 children had a care and support plan. Of which, 8% had a care and support plan supported using a Direct Payment.
• 2,881 children were on the Child Protection Register.
• 7,198 children were looked after (excluding those looked after exclusively under a series of short breaks).

Carers

During the year 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024

• 11,536 contacts were received by statutory social services from adult carers who were not receiving support (as a carer) at the time of the contact, or professionals contacting the information, advice and assistance (IAA) service on their behalf.
• 7,510 new assessments were completed for adult carers who did not already have a support plan.
• 2,366 contacts were received by statutory social services from young carers who were not receiving support (as a carer) at the time of the contact, or professionals contacting the information, advice and assistance (IAA) service on their behalf.^{[footnote 1]}
• 1,468 new assessments were completed for young carers who did not already have a support plan.^{[footnote 1]}

On 31 March 2024

• 3,186 adult carers had a support plan.
• 1,728 young carers had a support plan.^{[footnote 3]}

Changes to data collection requirements 

Some changes were made to data collection requirements for 2023 to 2024 when compared to 2022 to 2023. These included new requirements as well as amendments to existing requirements and further clarifying guidance. There were changes to what was collected for a number of metrics:

• CH/018: amended to no longer be based on CH/017
• CH/019: amended to no longer be based on CH/017
• CH/023: amended to include children more than once if they were registered multiple times throughout the year
• CH/029: amended to no longer be based on CH/026b
• CH/030: amended to no longer be based on CH/029
• CH/036: amended to include children more than once if they were de-registered multiple times throughout the year
• CH/037c: no longer collected
• CH/042: amended to no longer be based on CH/039
• CH/054: amended to count care leavers who have completed at least 3 consecutive months of employment, education, or training in the collection year regardless of when they left care
• CA/010: amended to count support plans due a review in the collection year that were reviewed at least once in the collection year
• CA/019: amended to count reviews of support plans completed during the collection year that were within statutory timescales
• CA/020: amended to count reviews of support plans completed during the collection year regardless of whether they were within statutory timescales

Direct payments

Direct payments are monetary amounts made available by local authorities to individuals, or their representative, to enable them to meet their care and support needs, or in the case of a carer, their support needs.

Quality issues

The Welsh Government worked with local authorities to collect statistics on social services activity through the Performance and Improvement Framework returns. Local authorities are expected to comply with the guidance notes for completion that accompany the data collection forms. Quality assurance was undertaken with local authorities prior to publication.

Data was not provided from all 22 local authorities for 54 (46%) metrics for 2023-24. Missing data included where data is not currently recorded or report development is required, data is not captured in a way that is reportable or recorded inconsistently, or data has not been provided by the local authority. Where data was not provided for 2023 to 2024, some assurances were given that further system changes are being implemented to allow reporting for 2024 to 2025.

It is apparent from the data that there remain inconsistencies for some metrics which are likely explained by differing interpretations of how data should be reported and local practice.

Published data

For adults, data for 34 out of 39 metrics have been published on StatsWales. 

For children, data for 54 out of 58 metrics have been published on StatsWales.

For carers, data for all 20 metrics have been published on StatsWales. 

Generally, the published data include coverage from all 22 local authorities. However, all local authorities were not able to provide data for some metrics, with four local authorities at most not providing data (82% coverage) for those metrics published. This data can only be used as an indication of the activity reported by the selected local authorities and does not represent the all Wales position.

Local authority level data, where quality has been deemed robust enough to report, is published on StatsWales. There is variation across local authorities and differences are being investigated further with local authorities.

For metrics where no data was published, there is missing data in all but one instance.

No data was published for the following metrics:

• AD/007
• AD/014
• AD/028
• AD/030
• AD/031
• CH/031
• CH/032
• CH/033
• CH/034

Revisions

Minor revisions have been made as part of processing the 2023 to 2024 data which have been agreed by local authorities. Revisions made to previous years’ data are labelled with a “(r)”.

Statistical designation 

These statistics are considered official statistics that are undergoing a development. This dataset is being published following the fourth year of data collection. Data quality issues have been identified that we expect to improve over time and we are actively working with providers to do this.

Future development

Data collection requirements for the Performance and Improvement Framework metrics are kept under review through regular stakeholder engagement. Refreshed data requirements have been issued for the 2024 to 2025 reporting year which includes further changes to some metrics.

Statement of compliance with the Code of Practice for Statistics

Our statistical practice is regulated by the Office for Statistics Regulation (OSR). OSR sets the standards of trustworthiness, quality and value in the Code of Practice for Statistics that all producers of official statistics should adhere to.

All of our statistics are produced and published in accordance with a number of statements and protocols to enhance trustworthiness, quality and value. These are set out in the Welsh Government’s Statement of Compliance.

These official statistics demonstrate the standards expected around trustworthiness, quality and public value in the following ways.

Trustworthiness

Data is returned annually from all 22 local authorities on Excel spreadsheets via Objective Connect, a web-based tool to securely share and receive files. Data collection is based on detailed guidance.

The published figures are compiled by professional analysts using the latest available data and applying methods using their professional judgement and analytical skillset. 

These statistics are pre-announced on the Statistics and Research area of the Welsh Government website. Access to the data during processing is restricted to those involved in the production of the statistics, quality assurance and for operational purposes. Pre-release access is restricted to eligible recipients in line with the Code of Practice (UK Statistics Authority).

Quality

Our statistics are produced to high professional standards and are produced free from any political interference.

Validation checks are performed by Welsh Government statisticians and queries referred to local authorities where necessary.

The statistical release is approved by senior statisticians before publication. Data is published in line with statement on confidentiality and data access each year.

Value

The purpose of the statistical release is to inform users about the care and support and support for carers local authorities provide in the delivery of their responsibilities under the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act (UK legislation).

Statistics are published annually with a ten-month lag between the reference period of the latest statistics and publication. The statistics are published with Wales level analysis and commentary, in addition to open data format tables which are published on StatsWales.

You are welcome to contact us directly with any comments about how we meet these standards. Alternatively, you can contact OSR by emailing regulation@statistics.gov.uk or via the OSR website.

Well-being of Future Generations Act (WFG)

The Well-being of Future Generations Act 2015 is about improving the social, economic, environmental and cultural wellbeing of Wales. The Act puts in place seven wellbeing goals for Wales. These are for a more equal, prosperous, resilient, healthier and globally responsible Wales, with cohesive communities and a vibrant culture and thriving Welsh language. Under section (10)(1) of the Act, the Welsh Ministers must (a) publish indicators (“national indicators”) that must be applied for the purpose of measuring progress towards the achievement of the wellbeing goals, and (b) lay a copy of the national indicators before Senedd Cymru. Under section 10(8) of the Well-being of Future Generations Act, where the Welsh Ministers revise the national indicators, they must as soon as reasonably practicable (a) publish the indicators as revised and (b) lay a copy of them before the Senedd. These national indicators were laid before the Senedd in 2021. The indicators laid on 14 December 2021 replace the set laid on 16 March 2016.

Information on the indicators, along with narratives for each of the wellbeing goals and associated technical information is available in the Well-being of Wales report.

Further information on the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015.

The statistics included in this release could also provide supporting narrative to the national indicators and be used by public services boards in relation to their local wellbeing assessments and local wellbeing plans.

We welcome feedback on these statistics. Please use the contact details below to provide feedback.

[1] Two local authorities did not provide data for this field.

[2] One local authority did not provide data for this field.

[3] three local authorities did not provide data for this field.

Ystadegydd: Bethan Sherwood
E-bost: ystadegau.gwascymdeithasol@llyw.cymru

Cyfryngau: 0300 025 8099

SDR 18/2025