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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.

The Explanatory Notes to the Act provide detailed commentary on the various provisions.

Coming into force

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).

The following Orders have been made:

Subordinate legislation made under the Act:

Further legislation, codes and guidance made under the Act are listed in the Social Services subject area of the site.

TitleCitation numberMade dateComing into force dateSupporting documents
The National Framework for the Commissioning of Care and Support in Wales Code of Practice and the Revised Code of Practice (General Functions) (Appointed Day) (Wales) Order 20242024 No. 875 (W. 138)27 August 2024
 		  
The Revised Code of Practice on the Role of the Director of Social Services (Social Services Functions) (Appointed Day) (Wales) Order 20242024 No. 351 (W. 65)    11 March 2024      
The Care and Support (Charging) (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2024   2024 No. 330 (W. 59)07 March 20248 April 2024    Explanatory Memorandum
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 20232023 No. 391 (W. 60)    29 March 2023    10 April 2023    Explanatory Memorandum
The Care and Support (Population Assessments) (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 20232023 No. 292 (W. 43)09 March 2023       01 April 2023 Explanatory Memorandum
The Care and Support (Charging) and (Financial Assessment) (Wales) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 20232023 No. 67 (W.12)23 January 2023 10 April 2023  Explanatory Memorandum
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 20222022 No. 427 (W. 106)  4 April 2022    11 April 2022    Explanatory Memorandum
The Code of Practice on the Delivery of Autism Services (Appointed Day) (Wales) Order 20212021 No. 906 (W. 206)   26 July 2021    01 September 2021    N/A
The Care Planning, Placement and Case Review (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 20212021 No. 860 (W. 199)15 July 202101 September 2021   Explanatory Memorandum
The Care and Support (Charging) (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 20212021 No. 255 (W. 68)05 March 2021   12 April 2021Explanatory Memorandum
The Adoption and Fostering (Wales) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Regulations 20212021 No. 251 (W. 65)5 March 2021     30 March 2021Explanatory Memorandum
The Partnership Arrangements (Amendment) and Regulated Services (Market Stability Reports) (Wales) Regulations 20212021 No. 198 (W. 46)   24 February 2021      01 April 2021  Explanatory Memorandum
The Adoption and Fostering (Wales) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Coronavirus) Regulations 20202020 No. 1082 (W. 244)    05 October 2020    01 November 2020    Explanatory Memorandum
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 20202020 No. 383 (W. 86)   30 March 2020  6 April 2020    N/A
The Code of Practice in relation to the performance and improvement of social services in Wales (Appointed Day) (Wales) Order 20202020 No. 328 (W. 75)     20 March 2020    01 April 2020  N/A
The Adoption Agencies (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 20202020 No. 163 (W. 31)    17 February 2020       01 April 2020 Explanatory Memorandum
The Care and Support (Charging) (Wales) and Land Registration Rules (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 20202020 No.131 (W. 24)  10 February 2020       06 April 2020 Explanatory Memorandum
The Revised Code of Practice on the exercise of social services functions in relation to Part 10 (Advocacy) of the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 (Appointed Day) (Wales) Order 20192019 No. 1501 (W. 277)    16 December 2019    1 January 2020    N/A
The Code of Practice in relation to Local Authority Fostering Services (Appointed Day) (Wales) Order 20192019 No. 938 (W. 164)       

14 May 2019   

 

20 May 2019

 

N/A
The Code of Practice for Local Authority Adoption Services (Appointed Day) (Wales) Order 20192019 No. 856 (W. 154)    11 April 2019      29 April 2019N/A
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 20192019 No. 797 (W. 150)     3 April 2019   8 April 2019    N/A
The Special Guardianship Code (Appointed Day) (Wales) Order 20182019 No. 775 (W. 157)    27 June 2018    02 July 2018    Explanatory Memorandum
The Partnership Arrangements and Population Assessments (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Wales) Regulations 20192019 No. 760 (W. 143)   29 March 2019      1 April 2019 Explanatory Memorandum
The Local Authority Fostering Services (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 20192019 No. 545 (W. 119) 12 March 2019     29 April 2019Explanatory Memorandum
The Care and Support (Charging) and (Financial Assessment) (Wales) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 20192019 No. 234 (W. 53)  12 February 2019        08 April 2019Explanatory Memorandum
The Arrangements for Assistance for Persons Making Representations (Wales) Regulations 20192019 No. 205 (W. 48)   06 February 2019      01 April 2019 Explanatory Memorandum
The Local Authority Fostering Services (Wales) Regulations 20182018 No. 1339 (W. 261) 12 December 2018       29 April 2019 Explanatory Memorandum
The Fostering Panels (Establishment and Functions) (Wales) Regulations 20182018 No. 1333 (W. 260)  10 December 2018        29 April 2019Explanatory Memorandum
The Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 (Isles of Scilly Modification) Regulations 20182018 No. 1267 (W. 253)    29 November 2018    4 February 2019    Explanatory Memorandum 
The Safeguarding Boards (General) (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 20182018 No. 494 (W. 85)       17 April 2018 25 May 2018  Explanatory Memorandum
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 20182018 No. 469 (W. 79)   26 March 2018   

Revised Part 6 Code: 2 April 2018

Revised Parts 4 and 5 Code: 9 April 2018  

N/A
The Children (Secure Accommodation) (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 20182018 No. 391 (W. 68)    19 March 2018    02 April 2018    Explanatory Memorandum
The Care and Support (Charging) (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2018 2018 No. 123 (W. 29)  30 January 2018       09 April 2018Explanatory Memorandum
The Care Planning, Placement and Case Review (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 20182018 No. 111 (W. 26)29 January 2018  02 April 2018    Explanatory Memorandum
The Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 20172017 No. 1025 (W. 263)   25 October 2017    1 December 2017    Explanatory Memorandum
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 20172017 No. 557 (W. 128) (C. 50)9 April 2017  10 April 2017   N/A
The Partnership Arrangements (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 20172017 No. 491 (W. 103)   28 March 201701 April 2017Explanatory Memorandum
The Local Authority Social Services Annual Reports (Prescribed Form) (Wales) Regulations 20172017 No. 274 (W. 72)   5 March 2017       4 September 2017 Explanatory Memorandum
The Care and Support (Choice of Accommodation, Charging and Financial Assessment) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Wales) Regulations 20172017 No. 214 (W. 58) 27 February 2017        10 April 2017Explanatory Memorandum
The Care and Support (Area Planning) (Wales) Regulations 20172017 No. 56 (W. 26)         24 January 2017   01 April 2017Explanatory Memorandum
The Social Services Code (Role of the Director of Social Services) (Appointed Day) (Wales) Order 20162016 No. 414 (W. 132)          21 March 20166 April 2016 N/A
The Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 20162016 No. 413 (W. 131)       
 		19 March 2016  These Regulations come into force on 6 
April 2016 subject to paragraphs 2(2) to (6).   		Explanatory Memorandum 
The Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 (Consequential Amendments) (Secondary Legislation) (Amendment) Regulations 20162016 No. 351 (W. 109)9 March 20165 April 2016   EM unavailable
The Children (Secure Accommodation) (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 20162016 No. 312 (W. 102)3 March 2016       6 April 2016 Explanatory Memorandum
The Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 (Consequential Amendments) and Care Planning, Placement and Case Review (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Wales) Regulations 20162016 No. 216 (W. 85)    19 February 2016     6 April 2016   Explanatory Memorandum
The Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 (Consequential Amendments) (Secondary Legislation) Regulations 20162016 No. 211 (W. 84)    19 February 20166 April 2016    Explanatory Memorandum
The Social Services Codes (Appointed Day) (Wales) Order 20162016 No. 142 (W. 67) 8 February 20166 April 2016    N/A
The Partnership Arrangements (Wales) Regulations 2015

2015 No. 1989 (W. 299)   

 

2 December 2015    

 

6 April 2016

sub-paragraph (a) of regulation 19(1) comes into force on 6 April 2018.    

Explanatory Memorandum

 

The Children (Secure Accommodation) (Wales) Regulations 2015 2015 No. 1988 (W. 298)       2 December 2015   6 April 2016 Explanatory Memorandum
The Care and Support (Business Failure) (Wales) Regulations 2015    2015 No. 1920 (W. 286)18 November 2015    6 April 2016Explanatory Memorandum
The Care and Support (Provision of Health Services) (Wales) Regulations 2015 2015 No. 1919 (W. 285)  18 November 2015     6 April 2016  Explanatory Memorandum
The Care and Support (Financial Assessment) (Wales) Regulations 20152015 No. 1844 (W. 272)    27 October 2015    6 April 2016    Explanatory Memorandum
The Care and Support (Charging) (Wales) Regulations 20152015 No 1843 (W.271)27 October 2015    6 April 2016Explanatory Memorandum
The Care and Support (Review of Charging Decisions and Determinations) (Wales) Regulations 2015   2015 No. 1842 (W. 270) 27 October 20156 April 2016 Explanatory Memorandum
The Care and Support (Deferred Payment) (Wales) Regulations 20152015 No 1841 (W.269)    27 October 2015     6 April 2016   Explanatory Memorandum
The Care and Support (Choice of Accommodation) (Wales) Regulations 20152015 No. 1840 (W. 268)       27 October 2015 6 April 2016  Explanatory Memorandum
The Visits to Children in Detention (Wales) Regulations 20152015 No 1823 (W. 265) 24 July 20156 April 2016Explanatory Memorandum
The Care Leavers (Wales) Regulations 20152015 No. 1820 (W. 262) 21 October 2015     6 April 2016   Explanatory Memorandum
The Care and Support (Direct Payments) (Wales) Regulations 20152015 No 1815 (W.260)    21 October 2015    6 April 2016  Explanatory Memorandum
The National Independent Safeguarding Board (Wales) (No. 2) Regulations 20152015 No. 1803 (W. 258)    30 October 2015    25 November 2015    Explanatory Memorandum
The Care and Support (Eligibility) (Wales) Regulations 20152015 No. 1578 (W. 187) 24 July 2015    6 April 2016   Explanatory Memorandum
The Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 (Social Enterprise, Co-operative and Third Sector) (Wales) Regulations 20152015 No. 1500 (W. 172) 8 July 2015 6 April 2016    Explanatory Memorandum
The Care and Support (Ordinary Residence) (Specified Accommodation) (Wales) Regulations 2015   2015 No. 1499 (W. 171)  7 July 2015   6 April 2016    Explanatory Memorandum
The Care and Support (Partnership Arrangements for Population Assessments) (Wales) Regulations 20152015 No. 1495 (W. 167)      8 July 2015  6 April 2016    Explanatory Memorandum
The Care and Support (Disputes about Ordinary Residence, etc.) (Wales) Regulations 20152015 No 1494 (W.166)  7 July 20156 April 2016  Explanatory Memorandum
The Safeguarding Boards (Functions and Procedures) (Wales) Regulations 20152015 No. 1466 (W.160)  1 July 2015 6 April 2016Explanatory Memorandum
The Adult Protection and Support Orders (Authorised Officer) (Wales) Regulations 20152015 No. 1465 (W. 159)    1 July 2015     6 April 2016   Explanatory Memorandum
The National Independent Safeguarding Board (Wales) Regulations 20152015 No. 1358 (W. 132)      4 June 2015 1 October 2015    Explanatory Memorandum
The Safeguarding Boards (General) (Wales) Regulations 20152015 No. 1357 (W 131) 4 June 2015      6 April 2016 Explanatory Memorandum
The Care and Support (Care Planning) (Wales) Regulations 2015 2015 No. 1335 (W. 126)   21 May 2015    6 April 2016 Explanatory Memorandum
The Care and Support (Assessment) (Wales) Regulations 20152015 No. 1305 (W. 111)  6 May 2015    6 April 2016    Explanatory Memorandum

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

Consideration of the legislation by the Senedd

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 is available on the Senedd’s website, including a record of the passage of the Bill through the Senedd and the Explanatory Memorandum that was prepared by the Welsh Government (as amended after Stage 2). 

The Act received Royal Assent on 1 May 2014.

Related articles and information

Overview of the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 | Social Care Wales

 

Published on
Last updated
27 September 2024