Commentary on Sections Section 162 – Arrangements to promote co-operation: adults with needs for care and support and carers
417.Section 162 provides that a local authority must make arrangements to promote cooperation between the local authority, each of the authority’s ‘relevant partners’ and other bodies who are engaged in activities relevant to adults in need of care and support and carers in need of support. The local authority must also make arrangements to promote co-operation between the officers of the authority. The arrangements are to be made with a view to improving the well-being of adults with needs for care and support and carers. Arrangements also need to focus on improving the quality of care and support and protecting adults who are experiencing or at risk of abuse or neglect.
418.All relevant partners may provide staff, goods, services, accommodation, establish and maintain a pooled fund and share information with one another. A ‘pooled fund’ is made up of contributions from the authority and the relevant partners out of which payments can be made in the discharge of functions. The local authority and its relevant partners must also have regard to any guidance given by the Welsh Ministers.
419.This provision for adults and carers mirrors the existing provisions of the Children Act 2004 in relation to children. Section 25 of the 2004 Act enables relevant partners as defined in that Act to establish and maintain a pooled fund or provide staff, goods and support to another partner for the purposes of the cooperation arrangements under that section.
420.An example where a pooled fund may be used to benefit adults could include the funding of additional health support workers to support people recovering from substance misuse or the development of an information and support service for carers.