The Market Stability Report (MSR) explains how well care and support services are working across a region. It also looks at whether these services can continue to meet the needs of the people who rely on them.

In Wales, the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 sets out how people should be supported and how services should be planned. As part of this, local authorities work with partners to produce reports. These reports describe the current care and support market and highlight any risks and priorities for keeping services stable.

How the Code of Practice relates

The Welsh Government’s Code of Practice explains how social services should work and how organisations should work together. It expects Market Stability Reports to give an overall view of care and support services and consider whether the market for regulated services is stable

More detailed reports

Alongside the MSR, there are more detailed documents. These include:

• Commissioning strategies
• Market Position Statements

These provide more information about specific services and plans for different parts of the care market

Regulated services covered

The Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 lists the services that are regulated. The MSR looks at how stable these services are across the region, including:

• Care Home Services (Adult and Children’s): Residential settings that provide care and support.
• Secure Accommodation Service (for Children): Specialist provision for children who need additional protection and support.
• Residential Family Centre Services: Support for families, providing a safe residential setting for assessment and help.
• Adoption Services: Support to help children who cannot live with their birth families find permanent families.
• Fostering Services: Temporary family-based care for children who cannot live at home.
• Adult Placement (‘Shared Lives’) Service: Support for adults to live with an approved carer or household, offering care and companionship.
• Advocacy Services: Support to help people express their views and have their rights represented.
• Domiciliary Support Services: Care and support delivered in people’s own homes (for example, personal care and day-to-day help).

How the MSR links to the Population Needs Assessment (PNA)

The MSR should be read alongside the Population Needs Assessment (PNA). The PNA considers current and future care and support needs, the demand for services, and the types of services required within local communities.

This MSR has been developed in partnership with the six organisations that make up the Gwent Regional Partnership Board: Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council, Caerphilly County Borough Council, Monmouthshire County Council, Newport City Council, Torfaen County Borough Council, and Aneurin Bevan University Health Board.

It includes regulated services, as well as those provided by independent, private, and third sector organisations.

Together, the MSR and the PNA provide a clear picture of the services currently available, what will be needed in the future, and how well supply meets demand across the region