What is the Section 16 Forum?

Section 16 of the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 is about making sure people get the help they need in their communities. It says that local councils should:

1. Support community groups and businesses that help people with care and support.

2. Involve people who use these services in planning and running them.

3. Work with charities and other organisations to provide these services.

The section aims to make sure that the services are designed with the help of the people who use them and that they are available to everyone who needs them. 

These meetings are more than just get-togethers; they help change and improve the care market. The main goals are to make people feel better and to be more eco-friendly, while also making sure there are many different types of care services. The Gwent Section 16 Forum is a new version of the old Provider Forum and Third Sector Collaborative Forums that used to happen in Gwent.

What is on the agenda for the Section 16 Forums?

1. Improving Care: We're focused on making people feel better and being more eco-friendly.

2. Balancing the Care Market: We want to have a variety of different care services.

Who should attend the Section 16 Forum?

The main members of the Forum will be local and regional leaders and all care and support providers in the area. These providers can be social enterprises, cooperatives, user-led organisations, or third sector organisations. Also, Section 16 organisations that aren’t care providers yet but want to be, can join too.

The Forum will focus on:

• Making sure services help people feel better.
• Working together and sharing ideas.
• Helping people early to prevent bigger problems.
• Adding social, cultural, economic, and environmental value.

Third sector partners will support and encourage social enterprises, cooperatives, user-led services, and the third sector. We want them to be ready and excited to offer their services.

Leaders and Section 16 organisations will use the Forum to talk openly. It’s a great place to discuss challenges, risks, and opportunities in local communities and the region. Members will find the Forum a place for support, learning, and sharing good practices. It’s all about helping each other to provide services that match the goals of the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act.

A special thing about Section 16 organisations is that they focus on co-production, which means giving citizens and carers a real voice and control.

There is also a steering group that organizes the Gwent Section 16 Forum. If you are a provider or a citizen interested in helping to plan these meetings, please contact: Hayley.Parker@torfaen.gov.uk  

Looking forward to seeing you at the next Section 16 Forum!