Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Act 2003

Provision of social servicesE+W

92General functionE+W

The Assembly has the general function of encouraging improvement in the provision of Welsh local authority social services.

93Reviews of studies and researchE+W

(1)The Assembly may review—

(a)studies and research undertaken by others in relation to the provision of Welsh local authority social services;

(b)the methods used in such studies and research; and

(c)the validity of conclusions drawn from such studies and research.

(2)Where the Assembly conducts a review under this section it must publish such report as it considers appropriate.

94Reviews and investigationsE+W

(1)The Assembly has the function of conducting reviews of, and investigations into, the way in which local authorities in Wales discharge their social services functions.

(2)The Assembly may in particular under this section conduct—

(a)a review of the overall provision of Welsh local authority social services;

(b)a review of the provision of any Welsh local authority social service of a particular description; or

(c)a review of, or investigation into, the provision of any Welsh local authority social service by a particular person or persons.

(3)The Assembly may in a review under subsection (2)—

(a)assess performance against criteria;

(b)award performance ratings.

(4)For the purposes of this section the Assembly may carry out an inspection of—

(a)any local authority in Wales;

(b)any other person providing a Welsh local authority social service.

(5)Where the Assembly conducts a review or investigation under this section, it must publish a report.

(6)The Assembly may by regulations require a local authority in Wales to pay a fee to the Assembly in respect of the exercise of the Assembly’s function under this section in relation to the functions referred to in section 43(3)(a) and (b) of the Care Standards Act 2000 (c. 14) (adoption and fostering functions).

(7)A fee under this section shall be of such amount, and shall be payable at such a time, as may be specified in the regulations.

(8)A fee payable by virtue of this section may, without prejudice to any other method of recovery, be recovered summarily as a civil debt.

95Studies as to economy, efficiency etcE+W

(1)The Assembly has the function of promoting or undertaking comparative or other studies designed to enable it to make recommendations—

(a)for improving economy, efficiency and effectiveness in the discharge by local authorities in Wales of their social services functions;

(b)for improving the management of such local authorities in the discharge of those functions.

(2)The Assembly may also promote or undertake studies designed to enable it to prepare reports as to the impact of the operation of any particular statutory provisions on economy, efficiency and effectiveness in the discharge by local authorities in Wales of their social services functions.

(3)The Assembly must publish or otherwise make available—

(a)any recommendations made by it under subsection (1); and

(b)a report on the result of any studies under this section.

(4)The Assembly and the Audit Commission must co-operate with each other with respect to the exercise of their respective functions under this section and sections 33 and 34 of the Audit Commission Act 1998 (c. 18).

96Additional functionsE+W

The Assembly shall have such additional functions in relation to the provision of Welsh local authority social services as—

(a)correspond to functions conferred on the CSCI by or under this Act; and

(b)are specified by the Assembly in regulations.

97General considerationsE+W

(1)This section applies for the purpose of the exercise by the Assembly of its functions—

(a)under sections 92 to 95; and

(b)under regulations under section 96.

(2)The Assembly shall be concerned in particular with—

(a)the availability of, and access to, the services;

(b)the quality and effectiveness of the services;

(c)the management of the services;

(d)the economy and efficiency of their provision and their value for money;

(e)the availability and quality of information provided to the public about the services;

(f)the need to safeguard and promote the rights and welfare of children; and

(g)the effectiveness of measures taken by local authorities for the purpose specified in paragraph (f).