The Market Stability Report (MSR) explains how care and support services are performing across a region, and whether the local care market is sustainable for the people who rely on it.

In Wales, the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 sets expectations for how people are supported and how services are planned. As part of this, local authorities work with partners to publish reports that describe the state of the care and support market and highlight risks and priorities for keeping services stable.

How the Code of Practice relates

The Welsh Government’s Code of Practice sets out how social services should work and how organisations should collaborate. It also expects MSRs to give an overall view of care and support and to consider whether the market for regulated services is stable.

More detailed reports

Alongside the MSR, more detailed documents—such as Market Position Statements and commissioning strategies—provide service-specific information and plans for particular parts of the market.

Regulated services covered

The Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 sets out a schedule of regulated services. The MSR considers the stability of these services across the region, including:

• Care Home Services (Adult and Children’s): Residential settings that provide care and support.
• Secure Accommodation Service (for Children): Specialist provision for children who need additional protection and support.
• Residential Family Centre Services: Support for families, providing a safe residential setting for assessment and help.
• Adoption Services: Support to help children who cannot live with their birth families find permanent families.
• Fostering Services: Temporary family-based care for children who cannot live at home.
• Adult Placement (‘Shared Lives’) Service: Support for adults to live with an approved carer or household, offering care and companionship.
• Advocacy Services: Support to help people express their views and have their rights represented.
• Domiciliary Support Services: Care and support delivered in people’s own homes (for example, personal care and day-to-day help).

How the MSR links to the Population Needs Assessment (PNA)

The MSR should be read alongside the Population Needs Assessment (PNA), which sets out current and projected need and demand for care and support in local communities, and the range and type of services required to meet that demand. This MSR has been produced in partnership with the six commissioning organisations that make up the Gwent Regional Partnership Board: Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council, Caerphilly County Borough Council, Monmouthshire County Council, Newport City Council, Torfaen County Borough Council, and Aneurin Bevan University Health Board.It covers regulated services as well as independent, private, and third sector provision. Together, the MSR and PNA provide a comprehensive picture of current and projected demand and supply across the region.