Agenda item

This report outlines progress towards the Carers Strategy Activity Plan, which has developed since the last update to Scrutiny.

Councillor Eleanor Jackson addressed the Panel, a copy of the statement will be attached as an online appendix to these minutes and a summary is set out below.

‘Thinking about the report which the Panel is asked to consider today, I was struck by the fact that we could not possibly know what it was like to care for someone 24/7 unless we had direct experience of it. The sheer mind-numbing fatigue I have observed in friends and neighbours is compounded by worry about finance and the future care which may or may not be provided for their partner or child when they are gone.

“It all adds to the stress”, one Swallows mother told me last week, “when you just want to make sure the child you love is as happy and safe and secure as they can be.”

Having a Carers strategy is a thoroughly good idea, not least because it will, I hope, set out clearly what BANES residents can expect from the Council, above and beyond what is set out in national law. I hope it works better than the ‘parish charter‘, at least as Westfield parish council see it. There must be a way to reduce the ‘bureaucracy; as the Swallows mums see it and bring together all aspects of caring for a disabled person.

If the dementia charities can do it, and Macmillan have a range of useful leaflets, not to mention the RNIB who have given me so much support, surely the Council can manage it, while also making residents with caring responsibilities feel valued, and not a nuisance or an unnecessary burden on the council tax payer.

It frustrates me when, as happened at my surgery on Saturday, a resident presents a terrible problem, and I have to give four (or more) different agencies who can help with some aspect of the problem. These papers illustrate the problem. First, there is the difficulty of getting a statement of educational and health needs, and the whole controversy over SEND.

Then we see that the school exclusions disproportionately affect children with special educational needs. In the Youth Justice report, the same inequality appears. Yet the government funding over the last decade has not been made available to address this.

It is assumed that everyone can find out all they need to know on the BANES website. 20% of my residents do not have internet access.

The Swallows mums told me to tell you that they want to be consulted, to have the annual reviews done promptly without months of delay and chasing, and not to have their gratitude taken for granted.’

The Commissioning Project & Programme Manager highlighted that it was clear that access to information and advice is crucial for our carers and potential carers. He added that the route to an assessment also needs to be made clear.

Councillor Liz Hardman said that she welcomed the forthcoming Strategy Activity Plan and asked if it would include a section on Young Carers.

The Commissioning Project & Programme Manager replied that the Strategy Activity Plan was specifically looking at adults. He added that a review of the Young Carers Strategy was due and planned for the Summer.

Councillor Lesley Mansell commented that she was pleased to see that the Strategy encourages support and engagement. She said that it was important to ensure that Annual Reviews are conducted in a timely manner.

The Commissioning Project & Programme Manager replied that they are pleased with the progress that has been made but recognise that more can still be done. He said that they work closely with the Carers Centre and recognise the need to stay engaged.

He added that work on the Carers Online Portal continues and that input from carers and the Community Wellbeing Hub will be sought during July and August.

Councillor Mansell asked how the Strategy will address the issues of poverty, SEND and health inequalities.

The Commissioning Project & Programme Manager replied that the Strategy was a broad strategy and also a living strategy that will develop over time. He added that two key objectives and two key priorities have been identified by carers and expected this to be added to as work progresses.

Councillor Mansell asked when the Panel could receive the Equalities Impact Assessment for the Strategy.

The Chair proposed that this should be available to the Panel in September.

Kevin Burnett referred to section 4.2 of the report and asked if the NHS bodies mentioned have an input into the formation or delivery of the Strategy.

The Commissioning Project & Programme Manager replied that the ICB has a role for when they work on priorities that have been identified by carers that will require a whole system solution. He said that they also work across different regions through the South West ADASS (Association of Directors of Adult Social Services) carer sub-group. He added that within the Activity Plan they are looking at how easy it is for a GP to refer or send a carer to a specific service.

Kevin Burnett asked what the role of the Carers Centre was, in terms of the Strategy.

The Commissioning Project & Programme Manager replied that when they began work on the Strategy it became clear that it had to be bigger than the work that the Carers Centre provides. He said that in no way should this diminish their work as it is incredibly valuable, but that they realised that they needed to reach as many groups and individuals as possible. He said that the Centre has been an integral part of forming the Strategy.

The Chair asked what work could be done to identify currently unidentified carers.

The Commissioning Project & Programme Manager replied that this was a national issue and that through the Strategy they were looking at how to get the system to work as well as possible for our carers. He said work was ongoing with the Community Wellbeing Hub to identify more carers. He added that the Hub has also been running an initiative in conjunction with the Royal United Hospital, Bath to raise awareness as to whether people qualify / identify as being a carer.

The Chair asked referred to the changes in Personal Independence Payment and asked what proposals were being considered as part of this process.

The Commissioning Project & Programme Manager replied that officers were still working through these potential changes.

The Panel RESOLVED to note the report having considered its content and provide comments upon it.