Vacancy -- Future Generations Commissioner for Wales

The Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 (the Act) is about improving the social, economic, environmental and cultural well-being of Wales. 

It will make the public bodies listed in the Act think more about the long-term, work better with people and communities and each other, look to prevent problems and take a more joined-up approach.  This will help us to create a Wales that we all want to live in, now and in the future. 

To make sure we are all working towards the same vision, the Act puts in place seven well-being goals for Wales:

• A prosperous Wales: An innovative, productive and low carbon society which recognises the limits of the global environment and therefore uses resources efficiently and proportionately (including acting on climate change); and which develops a skilled and well-educated population in an economy which generates wealth and provides employment opportunities, allowing people to take advantage of the wealth generated through securing decent work.

• A resilient Wales: A nation which maintains and enhances a biodiverse natural environment with healthy functioning ecosystems that support social, economic and ecological resilience and the capacity to adapt to change (for example climate change).

• A healthier Wales: A society in which people’s physical and mental well-being is maximised and in which choices and behaviours that benefit future health are understood.

• A more equal Wales: A society that enables people to fulfil their potential no matter what their background or circumstances (including their socio economic background and circumstances).

• A Wales of cohesive communities: Attractive, viable, safe and well-connected communities.

• A Wales of vibrant culture and thriving Welsh language: A society that promotes and protects culture, heritage and the Welsh language, and which encourages people to participate in the arts, and sports and recreation.

• A globally responsible Wales: A nation which, when doing anything to improve the economic, social,  environmental and cultural well-being of Wales, takes account of whether doing such a thing may make a positive contribution to global well-being.

Wales faces a number of challenges now and in the future, such as climate change, poverty, health inequalities and jobs and growth. To tackle these and to give current and future generations a good quality of life we need to think about the long term impact of the decisions we make and work together. This law will make sure that our public sector does this.

For Wales to be sustainable it is important that we improve all four aspects of our well-being.  Each is as important as the others.  The Act places a duty that the public bodies will be expected to carry out. A duty means they have to do this by law.

This means that each public body listed in the Act must work to improve the economic, social, environmental and cultural well-being of Wales. To do this they must set and publish well-being objectives.

These objectives will show how each public body will work to achieve the vision for Wales set out in the well-being goals.  Public bodies must then take action to make sure they meet the objectives they set.

The seven well-being goals show the kind of Wales we want to see.  Together they provide a shared vision for the public bodies listed in the Act to work towards. They are a set of goals; the Act makes it clear the listed public bodies must work to achieve all of the goals, not just one or two.

The Act puts in place a ‘sustainable development principle’ which tells organisations how to go about meeting their duty under the Act.  Public bodies need to make sure that when making their decisions they take into account the impact they could have on people living their lives in Wales in the future.

There are five things that public bodies need to think about to show that they have applied the sustainable development principle. Following these ways of working will help us work together better, avoid repeating past mistakes and tackle some of the long-term challenges we are facing:

• Long term: The importance of balancing short-term needs with the need to safeguard the ability to also meet long-term needs.

• Prevention: How acting to prevent problems occurring or getting worse may help public bodies meet their objectives.

• Integration: Considering how the public body’s well-being objectives may impact upon each of the well-being goals, on their other objectives, or on the objectives of other public bodies.

• Collaboration: Acting in collaboration with any other people (or different parts of the body itself) that could help the body to meet its well-being objectives.

• Involvement: The importance of involving people with an interest in achieving the well-being goals, and ensuring that those people reflect the diversity of the area which the body serves.

The Future Generations Commissioner for Wales’ role is to act as a guardian for the interests of future generations in Wales, and to support the public bodies listed in the Act to work towards achieving the wellbeing goals.

The Commissioner will be supported by an office of up to 18 staff, which includes up to four Directors.  The Welsh Government will provide a budget of approximately £1.4 million.

Welsh language skills are desirable for the post; however, should the appointed candidate be unable to communicate in Welsh, they will be expected to learn in post.  In addition, all candidates will be expected to display an awareness of the linguistic profile of Wales and support compliance with the forthcoming Welsh Language Standards.

Key responsibilities of the role of Commissioner

As set out in Part 3 of the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 the Commissioner will have a legal duty to:

(a) To promote the sustainable development principle, in particular to:

i. Act as a guardian of the ability of future generations to meet their needs; and

ii. Encourage public bodies to take greater account of the long-term impact of the things that they do.

(b) For that purpose to monitor and assess the extent to which well-being objectives set by public bodies are being met.

As set out in the Act, the key responsibilities of the role of Commissioner will include:

• Providing advice to public bodies, supporting them to work to meet their well-being objectives and encouraging best practice;

• Providing advice to Public Services Boards about the preparation of their Local Well-being Plan;

• Carrying out research to include the well-being goals, the national indicators and milestones, and the sustainable development principle and how public bodies apply it;

• Conducting reviews into how public bodies are taking account of the long-term impact of decisions, and make recommendations based on the findings;

• Making recommendations to a public body about the steps taken or proposed to set and meet well-being objectives;

• Preparing and publishing a Future Generations Report every five years, which presents an assessment of the improvements that public bodies have made and should make in relation to setting and meeting well-being objectives in line with the sustainable development principle;

• Seeking the advice of the Advisory Panel.

Experience and skills required for the role of Commissioner are:

• Experience of strategic leadership at Executive or Board level, to include financial and people management;

• An in-depth understanding of the importance of sustainable development to Wales and the challenges and opportunities that the Act presents to our public bodies and communities;

• A well developed ability to inspire confidence in a diverse range of stakeholders, to include skills in negotiating, persuading and influencing people at all levels, handling the media and wider public audiences;

• Independence of judgement and the ability to quickly analyse problems and to express complex issues in a simple and articulate way;

• Demonstrable track record of a commitment to the principles of equality and diversity;

• An understanding of the relative roles of public, private and third sector bodies and a commitment to Nolan’s Seven Principles of Public Life.

Transition period

The Future Generations Commission for Wales will exist as a legal functioning entity after the successful passage of the Commencement Order No 1 which is likely to be mid October 2015 and the Future Generations Commissioner is appointed. When these two criteria are met, the Future Generations Commissioner is entitled to enter into contracts and financial transactions, subject to the budget provision of Welsh Government.

In addition to the key responsibilities listed above, because of an individual’s current employment contract, there may be a period of transition between the date of the appointment of the Commissioner and the date that the successful applicant is able to take up the post.

During this time of transition, it will be necessary to involve the Commissioner Designate in such start up tasks for the organisation.  Though not exhaustive, these tasks may include  being consulted  on the national indicators being developed as part of implementing the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act, defining the governance arrangements, establishing complaints procedures, appointing staff, completing the register of interests, defining the forward work plan and annual financial planning.