Future Generations Act Wellbeing Statement

This well-being statement sets out how our well-being objectives meet our statutory duty under the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 and should be read alongside our corporate plan. 

It explains: 

• what our wellbeing objectives are 
• how our well-being objectives were set, including how we have applied the five ways of working under the sustainable development principle 
• how our well-being objectives maximise our contribution to all seven of Wales’ long-term well-being goals as specified in the Act 
• how our work will provide multiple benefits for people now and in the future

The wellbeing objectives are essential in guiding the Centre for Digital Public Services (CDPS) towards creating meaningful, sustainable change that benefits both the organisation and the public we serve. By focusing on these objectives, we align our efforts with broader goals of promoting social, economic, and environmental wellbeing, ensuring that our work has a lasting and positive impact. 

Our commitment to transparency, inclusivity, and long-term impact will be at the core of our approach. We are dedicated to fostering an open and collaborative environment that ensures our actions are both effective and accountable, with a focus on delivering tangible benefits for future generations. 

These objectives were set using the below resources:  

• Shared Purpose Shared Futures 1: Core Guidance (section 5.2). 
• Shared Purposes Shared Future 2: Individual role (public bodies) (paragraphs 18 to 24). 
• Getting ready for the Social Partnership Duty 
• Future Trends Report Wales 2021 
• National Well-being Indicators and Milestones 
• Well-being of Wales Report 
• Future Generations Report (futuregenerations2020.wales) 
• Findings from the Auditor General’s Sustainable Development Principal Examinations 
• Public Services Boards’ local well-being plans 

In setting our well-being objectives, we have considered the global, UK and Welsh contexts within which we are working, reflecting on: 

• The future trends report 

As a small organisation, the CDPS does not currently recognise any trade unions. To comply with the Social Partnership and Public Procurement Act, CDPS has established an Employee Forum. This forum consists of 13 members from various departments, locations across Wales and backgrounds who are consulted on wellbeing objectives and internal matters such as policy amendments, benefits, and changes to processes. 

To ensure diverse representation in decision-making, we have made the forum open for voluntary participation, ensuring that all departments are represented. 

The Employee Forum also has full access and editing rights to the document where the objectives and steps are stored. They can comment and suggest amendments as needed. This collaborative process resulted in adjustments, including a reduction in timeframes for one of the objectives and clarifications to wording, ensuring a clearer understanding of our actions. 

The forum was consulted on 3 separate occasions in tandem with their ongoing editing rights: 

1. The first draft of the objectives 
2. Second draft with SLT amendments  
3. Consulted on final sign off 

CDPS wanted to ensure collaboration and input from across internal services and specialisms whilst setting our objectives. To include and engage with members from across the organisation we carried a workshop that was intended to engage staff in understanding. The workshop was attended by 37 members of staff, with the workshop being run 6 times across a period of 5 weeks. All staff members were given the opportunity to contribute and attend a workshop, given the opportunity to input in a one-to-one setting if required. 

This process ensured we documented feedback and gathered ideas from across the organisation. 

The workshop consisted of several questions intended to help us set our wellbeing objectives: 

• Where will CDPS be in the next 25 years? 
• What are we trying to achieve? 
• What impact do we want? 
• What problem are we trying to solve? 

The answer to these questions formed our 4 main wellbeing objectives by finding the key themes across the answers given by staff.  

The second half of the workshop was intended to gather our steps which will help us work towards the objectives. Staff were asked to think about each wellbeing objective, what we’re doing well, and what we aren’t doing well toward these goals. These answers were then themed to each draft objective and used to create our steps.  

The premise of this workshop was taken from the guidance provided in the future generations report. 

We then started affinity sorting the suggestion from staff and set our draft objectives. We want to ensure they were specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) wellbeing objectives and ensure coherence with CDPS’s overall mission and values as well as the future trends report. 

All insight were collated resulting in 4 clear focus areas for the CDPS to make a tangible influence on the wellbeing goals.  

• The Digital Service Standard provides a consistent and seamless experience for the Welsh public. 
• The Welsh public can independently and securely access digital public services. 
• There is a highly skilled sustainable digital workforce in Wales, ready to thrive in a digital world. 
• Welsh digital public services are sustainable and carbon-efficient enhance.

Below is an outline of how these objectives can help deliver change:  

Objective 1: The Welsh public can independently and securely access digital public services  

Wellbeing goals this objective contributes to: 

• A Healthier Wales: This objective ensures that public services are accessible to everyone, regardless of disability, promoting equitable access to health services for all. 
• A Globally Responsible Wales: Providing secure and independent access to public services aligns Wales with ethical standards and reinforces its commitment to global responsibility. 
• A Wales of Vibrant Culture and Thriving Welsh Language: Ensuring public services are accessible means offering them in both Welsh and English, supporting linguistic equality and cultural vibrancy. 
• A More Equal Wales: Accessibility will be prioritised as a standard practice, ensuring that no disability or impairment becomes a barrier to accessing services. 
• A Wales of Cohesive Communities: Public services provided by local authorities, health boards central government and third sector will be designed to ensure inclusivity, fostering stronger and more connected communities ensuring the inclusion of seldom heard voices and fostering a more cohesive community.  

Future trends this objective will affect: 

• People and Population: Wales has an ageing population, and while people are living longer, they are not necessarily living healthier lives. This places an increasing burden on the NHS, but by ensuring public services are independently accessible and secure, we can help to alleviate or mitigate this strain. 
• Inequalities: In Wales, 20% of the population lives in poverty, with people with disabilities and ethnic minorities being disproportionately affected. Making public services accessible to all ensures that those who rely most on these essential services can always access them. 
• Public Finances: While secure and independent access to public services requires upfront investment in digital infrastructure, accessibility, and cybersecurity, it can lead to long-term savings through more efficient service delivery, reduced health disparities, and increased societal productivity. 
• Public Sector Demand and Digital: The Future Trends Report highlights that 77% of Wales's population already access public services online. With growing demand for these services, it is vital to ensure they are accessible, user-friendly, and inclusive for everyone. 

Objective 2: The digital service standard provides a consistent and seamless experience for the Welsh public 

Wellbeing Goals this objective contributes to: 

• A Healthier Wales: The digital service standard ensures equitable and seamless access to digital health services for everyone, regardless of ability, promoting better health outcomes for all. 
• A Globally Responsible Wales: By adhering to the digital service standard, Wales demonstrates global leadership in providing consistent, user-focused services that meet the needs of all people. 
• A Wales of Vibrant Culture and Thriving Welsh Language: The digital service standard ensures both Welsh and English are treated equally, delivering a seamless bilingual experience for users. 
• A More Equal Wales: The digital service standard prioritises accessibility, removing barriers and ensuring individuals with disabilities or impairments can access services without difficulty. 
• A Wales of Cohesive Communities: The digital service standard fosters cohesion by enabling local authorities to design services that bring people together and strengthen community connections. 
• A Prosperous Wales: Implementing the digital service standard drives efficiency in service delivery, reducing costs and fostering innovation, which supports economic growth and prosperity. 
• A Resilient Wales: The digital service standard creates robust and reliable services that remain accessible and consistent during crises, ensuring a seamless experience even in challenging times. 

Future trends this objective will affect: 

• People and Population: Wales has an ageing population, and while people are living longer, they are not necessarily living healthier lives. This places an increasing burden on the NHS, but by ensuring public services are independently accessible and secure, we can help to alleviate or mitigate this strain. 
• Public Finances: While secure and independent access to public services requires upfront investment in digital infrastructure, accessibility, and cybersecurity, it can lead to long-term savings through more efficient service delivery, reduced health disparities, and increased societal productivity. 
• Public Sector Demand and Digital: The Future Trends Report highlights that 77% of Wales's population already access public services online. With growing demand for these services, it is vital to ensure they are accessible, user-friendly, and inclusive for everyone. 

Objective 3: There is a highly skilled sustainable digital workforce in Wales, ready to thrive in a digital world 

Wellbeing Goals this objective contributes to: 

• A Healthier Wales: By equipping individuals with the skills needed to deliver digital health services, this objective will ultimately improve health outcomes and enhance the overall wellbeing of the population. 
• A Globally Responsible Wales: This objective prepares individuals to engage in global digital and technological advancements ethically, supporting sustainable practices, and contributing to international efforts in areas like climate action, digital equity, and responsible innovation. 
• A Wales of Vibrant Culture and Thriving Welsh Language: By improving understanding of practices such as trio writing we will ensure the Welsh language is treated equally in public services. 
• A More Equal Wales: By ensuring that all individuals have equal access to digital skills training they will be empowered to compete in the job market. Reducing disparities in employment opportunities across different communities. 
• A Wales of Cohesive Communities: We hope to foster inclusive education and training opportunities, bringing people together through communities of practice. 
• A Prosperous Wales:  This objective contributes to a prosperous Wales by equipping the workforce with the digital skills needed to drive innovation, attract investment, and enhance productivity, leading to sustainable economic growth. 
• A Resilient Wales: By developing a workforce that can adapt to changing technologies, respond to challenges with innovative solutions, and ensure that Wales remains competitive and self-sufficient in the face of global disruptions. 

Future trends this objective will affect: 

• People and Population: This objective can positively impact the trend of an ageing, unhealthier population and the rise of one-person households by supporting remote healthcare delivery, and independent living. It can also provide opportunities for older individuals to stay connected, engaged, and healthier through digital tools, while offering flexible job opportunities for those in one-person households, reducing isolation and improving quality of life. 
• Inequalities: This goal can help address income inequality by providing equitable access to digital skills training for all, including those from disadvantaged backgrounds. This helps bridge the gap for poorer students, enabling them to acquire the skills needed for higher-paying, future-proof jobs, reducing economic disparities and promoting greater social mobility across Wales. 
• Planetary Health and limits: by equipping the workforce with the digital skills necessary to develop sustainable technologies, innovate in green industries, and address global challenges such as climate change and food security. A digitally skilled workforce can drive solutions for reducing carbon footprints, enhancing agricultural practices, and ensuring sustainable resource management, helping Wales contribute to global efforts to mitigate environmental impacts and safeguard planetary health. 
• Technology: This objective can help mitigate the challenges posed by increasing technology use, AI, and job automation. By equipping individuals with the digital skills needed to adapt to new roles and technologies, Wales can reduce the risk of job displacement in at risk sectors. This objective promotes upskilling, enabling workers to transition into jobs in emerging industries, fostering resilience in the workforce and ensuring more equitable opportunities in the digital economy. 
• Public Finances: By enhancing job quality and narrowing the qualifications gap, leading to higher paying, more secure employment opportunities. By equipping individuals with the skills needed for the digital economy, this objective can help raise living standards, reduce reliance on social support, and boost productivity, ultimately improving economic output and public revenues in Wales, addressing the current gap in living standards compared to the UK. 
• Public Sector Demand and Digital: By preparing individuals to meet the increasing demand for digital skills in the public sector. As more services transition online, a skilled workforce is essential to ensure efficient, effective, and accessible public services, improving delivery and responsiveness while supporting the ongoing digital transformation of government services in Wales. 

Objective 4: Welsh digital public services are sustainable and carbon-efficient 

Wellbeing Goals this objective contributes to: 

• A Globally Responsible Wales: As a leader in sustainable, carbon-efficient digital transformation, Wales will play an active role in addressing global environmental issues, such as climate change, by reducing carbon emissions and promoting responsible technology practices. 
• A More Equal Wales: Sustainable digital transformation can address inequalities by ensuring that all communities, including rural and under-served areas, have access to clean, efficient, and reliable technologies. This creates opportunities for equitable access to high-quality services, employment, and education, ultimately improving the quality of life. 
• A Prosperous Wales: By positioning Wales as a leader in sustainable, carbon-efficient technologies we will be positioned at the forefront of emerging global markets, driving economic growth through innovation and the green economy.  
• A Resilient Wales: By prioritising sustainable, carbon-efficient digital transformation, Wales will build a resilient infrastructure capable of adapting to environmental changes and global challenges.  

Future trends this objective will affect: 

• Planetary Health and limits: By championing sustainable and carbon-efficient digital transformation, Wales will contribute to reducing its environmental footprint, promoting the use of green technologies, and supporting global efforts to mitigate climate change. This transition can help address critical planetary health issues, such as rising global temperatures and environmental degradation, while fostering long-term ecological sustainability. 
• Technology: This objective encourages the development and adoption of cutting-edge, sustainable technologies that improve efficiency and reduce resource consumption. As Wales positions itself as a leader in sustainable digital solutions, it will drive innovation in sectors such as renewable energy, green IT, and eco-friendly infrastructure, ensuring that technological growth aligns with environmental goals. 
• Public Finances: Investing in carbon-efficient digital transformation has the potential to reduce long-term costs by streamlining public services, cutting energy consumption, and lowering carbon-related penalties or taxes. This approach can also attract green investments, stimulate job creation in the sustainable tech sector, and increase economic resilience, ultimately improving public finances and reducing the financial impact of environmental challenges. 
• Public Sector Demand and Digital: As digital services become more essential in the public sector, Wales' focus on sustainable, carbon-efficient digital transformation will help meet growing demands for online public services while minimizing environmental impacts. Digital services will be delivered more efficiently, ensuring that public sector infrastructure is adaptable, scalable, and aligned with sustainability goals. Additionally, it supports the wider adoption of digital solutions, driving the modernisation and greening of government services.