The Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 requirement for local authorities and local health boards to jointly carry out a population needs assessment (PNA) Care and support is in relation to people known to social services and those supported through preventative services.
What the Code says you must do:
Jointly assess with your LHB partners:
- People who need care and support;
- Unpaid carers who need support;
- the extent to which that care and support is not being met (by the authority, the Board or otherwise);
- the range and level of services required to meet the care and support needs;
- the range and level of services required to achieve preventative services and
- the actions required to provide the range and level of services through the medium of Welsh.
Statutory duty to form a joint committee between health and local authorities to undertake the PNA and nominate a lead co-ordinating agency. Funding and resourcing for the assessment process is also the joint responsibility of the three organisations.
Part 2 of the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 requires all regions in Wales to produce a Population Needs Assessment (PNA) every five years. The previous PNA was published in 2022 and can be accessed here.
What we are doing with our 2026 Population Needs Assessment (PNA)
Our 2026 Population Needs Assessment (PNA) is shaping how we plan and deliver services across Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan. We are bringing together data, partner insight and lived experience to build a clear, shared understanding of the needs and strengths of our communities.
Differently to previous editions, this is not a one-off report. We are developing this PNA as a living resource, continuously updated to reflect changing needs, emerging challenges and new intelligence from across the system.
We are working closely with partners—including health, local authorities and the third sector—and placing a strong emphasis on engagement, voice and co-production, ensuring that people’s real experiences help shape future services.
The 2026 PNA will directly inform key plans such as Joint Area Plans and Market Stability Reports, supporting more joined-up, preventative approaches that enable people to live well and independently in their communities.
You can explore each chapter of the current Population Needs Assessment below.
