North Wales council to benefit from £136m social care investment
Conwy Council will benefit from a £136m investment in social care across Wales as part of an IT systems upgrade – but future funding for the expensive scheme is yet to be confirmed for the authority. Conwy councillors will this week be updated on the rollout of 'Mosaic' - a system designed to make it easier for social care workers to support residents.
The new IT system will also improve the service and how information is shared with other health services. The system is being brought in as part of the Connecting Care programme - a Welsh Government-backed scheme aimed at modernising social care systems in all local authorities.
A business case was submitted in the autumn on behalf of all Welsh councils for £136.8m to fund the programme for the next eight years. But whilst Welsh Government funding has been approved retrospectively for 2024/2025, funding for 2025/2026 and beyond is yet to be confirmed for Conwy. Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox.
According to the report, the council has estimated an 'actual capital cost' of over £500K (£508,454.45), with the 'in house costs – additional staff resource' totalling at £623,454. A capital cost of £815K was agreed last year 'to allow Conwy to participate in the national procurement of a Connecting Care system, recognising that this may not be needed, in part or in full, if funded from Welsh Government'.
The new system will also handle case files and manage payments, such as those that are made to foster carers, as well as day care and domiciliary care. The authority signed up with the Access Group software supplier in January after a tendering process at the end of last year.
Conwy has been 'twinned' to work with Wrexham in the rollout. The matter is set to be discussed on Wednesday at a social care and health overview and scrutiny committee at the council's Coed Pella HQ.
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