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Welsh Government Consultation: Approach to the development of a national outcomes framework for Social Services in Wales

The Welsh Government is seeking your views on its plans to transform social services in Wales and sets out our proposals for the next three years.

You can find out more about the consultation on the Welsh Government website.

Fully funded company Health and Well-being Accreditation - limited places remaining

Consult Capital has been appointed by Public Health Wales to deliver a free Welsh Government funded service that could benefit your organisation and your people.

The Corporate Health Standard and Small Workplace Health Award are national workplace health initiatives. To secure this funded accreditation, all you need to do is ensure you’re signed up by 31^st December 2012 – you won’t have to start it until the New Year.

 To put it simply, they can help you to:

·         demonstrate your commitment - both internally and externally, to maintaining and improving the health of your workforce

·         save money - by reducing sickness absence figures

·         improve your employees’ performance - increasing their motivation and effectiveness.

Organisations like yours are now using this accreditation to show that they take the health and well-being of their employees seriously.

Find out more here. Alternatively, email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Brief Intervention for Smoking Cessation

Stop Smoking Wales is pleased to offer a FREE one-day brief intervention training course. Vale of Glamorgan - 25 March 2013.

What is brief intervention training for smoking cessation?

Brief intervention is a method of discussing smoking and quitting in a positive, non-confrontational way to encourage smokers to think about giving up and enable them to access specialist support when they are ready.

Who is the training for?

This training is suitable for all professionals who come into contact with smokers on a regular basis.

What will the training cover?

·         Smoking-related issues and concerns, prevalence, recent changes to the law, the health risks of smoking and the benefits of quitting

·         Understanding why people smoke and why it can be difficult to quit

·         Recognising when a person may be ready to quit

·         Developing practical skills to make effective brief interventions

·         How to refer to Stop Smoking Wales and what the service offers

Who is delivering the training?

The training has been developed by Stop Smoking Wales practitioners and is accredited through the Royal College of Nursing and Agored Cymru (formerly Open College Network Cymru). The course will be delivered through the medium of English.

How much does the training cost?

The course is free. If you book a place but are unable to attend, please let us know as soon as possible so we can offer the place to someone else. Cancellation must be made no later than 48 hours prior to the start of the course or a non-attendance fee of £75 may be charged.

How to book a place

Please see below for dates and locations. Please choose your preferred course, then request a booking form via the email below. 

Further information

If you would like any further information or have any queries, please contact Stop Smoking Wales on This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

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Council Tax Reduction Scheme Consultation and sessions about changes to Welfare Reform

Council Tax

From April 2013 Council Tax Benefit will be replaced by a new Council Tax Reduction Scheme. Due to UK Government funding cuts there will be less money to pay for the new scheme and the funding will be cash limited not allowing for any growth in claims.

At present 35,700 households in Cardiff receive help with their Council Tax. 27,000 households pay no Council Tax at all. All these households will have to pay at least 10% of their Council Tax from April 2013.

The Welsh Government has produced draft regulations setting out how the Council Tax Reduction Scheme will operate. Unfortunately these regulations were not passed by the Assembly as expected on 5^th December. However, it is expected that this will be resolved shortly.

The draft regulations give only very limited discretion to Councils. Despite this, each Council must consult on and adopt a Council Tax Reduction Scheme by 31^st January 2013. 

The consultation process has now begun and the Council will be writing to all benefit claimants as part of this process. More information can be found at www.cardiff.gov.uk/welfarereform.

If you would like to take part in the consultation please visit http://www.surveys.cardiff.gov.uk/benefits/ before the consultation closes on 11^th January 2013.

Welfare Reform

There are briefing sessions for Advisors on the Welfare Reform changes.

19/12/12 10am Armstrong Training Room, Willcox House, Dunleavy Drive

7/1/13       2pm Armstrong Training Room, Willcox House, Dunleavy Drive

16/1/13   10am Armstrong Training Room, Willcox House, Dunleavy Drive

25/1/13     2pm Armstrong Training Room, Willcox House, Dunleavy Drive

Sessions will last approximately 90 minutes. To book a session, please email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Welfare Reform Roadshows

There are also Welfare Reform Roadshows in Cardiff and the following groups will be present to offer advice:

JobCentrePlus, Citizens' Advice Bureau, Cardiff and Vale Credit Union, Cardiff Council, Speakeasy Advice Centre and Riverside Advice.