Welcome to the latest edition of our Joint Working Journal. Today’s entry focuses on the Steering and Advisory Board 2 (SAB2) meeting held on 13th May. SAB2 covers the work of the Emotional Well-being and Mental Health Programme and the Well-being and Learning Disability Programme.

Emotional Well-being and Mental Health Programme

The main focus of the update for this area of work was the progress of the ‘New Commissioning Model’ workstream. An approach to selecting the most suitable commissioning model has been approved and a video is currently in production which will be shared with providers. Its aim will be to outline the pros and cons of the most commonly used commissioning models, and providers can take the time to watch and digest the content before meeting in person to discuss the possible options. A workshop is due to be held in July to allow participants the opportunity to have their say via a series of activities which will identify the model most suited to the needs and preferences of our region’s population.

The next Emotional Well-being and Mental Health Board meeting is taking place in person in July. This will be the last Board meeting for our Volunteer Representative, Gerald Cole. We would like to take this opportunity to thank Gerald for the phenomenal commitment and enthusiasm he has shown during his time with us. Gerald has always ensured that the voice of the person remains front and centre in all aspects of our work, and we are hugely grateful for his invaluable contributions.

Thank you, Gerald! We’ll miss you!

Well-being and Learning Disability Programme

A key emphasis of the Well-being and Learning Disability Programme section of SAB3 was the proposed redevelopment of the ‘Dan Y Deri’ facility – a transformative project aimed at enhancing specialist care for individuals with learning disabilities and complex behavioural needs.

The Board reviewed a revised Business Justification Case (BJC) requesting £9.3 million in capital investment to create a modern, therapeutic unit to support up to eight individuals in a flat-led model, offering personalised, robust living spaces that promote independence and dignity.

The scheme aims to improve outcomes by providing care for individuals closer to their families and communities, while also reducing reliance on costly out-of-area placements.

The Board also approved the allocation of Regional Integration Fund (RIF) resources for 2025 – 2027 to support a series of innovative projects. These include a supported living initiative that will enhance community involvement and flexibility, develop social enterprise opportunities, and reduce reliance on paid support – making the model more sustainable and person-centred.

Together, these initiatives mark a significant step forward in delivering more inclusive, preventative, and empowering services for people with a learning disability across the region.

Flying the Flag at Swansea Pride 🌈

If you paid a visit to this year’s Swansea Pride event on 17^th May, you may have spotted us at the community marketplace space inside the Brangwyn Hall with our information stand. We had an incredible day, and plans are now underway for us to attend Neath Port Talbot Pride in August.

Click on the following link for more on what we got up to on the day – Flying the Flag at Swansea Pride – West Glamorgan Regional Partnership

Thank you for reading – we’ll be back with another update after the next SAB ☺️