The panel to review the Carers Strategy.

Councillor Tuffin, Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care gave an overview of the Carers Strategy.  It was reported that carers were the forgotten army of the health and social care system.  There were 27,247 carers living in Plymouth including 840 young carers.  The strategy covers adults and young carers and was undertaken in consultation with all key stakeholders and the action plan outlined what we want to achieve.  Oversight and monitoring of the strategy would be undertaken by the Carers Strategic Board.

Katy Shorten, Craig McArdle, George Plenderleith, Lesley Gross, Nicola MacPhail and Emma Crowther also attended the panel for this item.  They wanted to demonstrate the co-operative approach taken and how they involved the key people in the development of the strategy and to provide assurance to the panel that the action plan was fit for purpose and fully consulted on.

Lesley Gross, Chair of Plymouth Carers Forum gave thanks to Katy and Craig for involving carers right from the beginning.  The Plymouth Carers Forum was set up in 2010 and became involve with PCC to develop services for carers.  The Forum fund raise for activities and provide counselling course, benefits workshops, crafts and social days out.  They work closely with the carers hubs and enhance what the carers hub delivers. They were in the process of organising a Carers Rights Conference.

George Plenderleith reported that they had enhanced the carers service at the end of December 2012 and the service had been running for 18 months.  There were 5,500 carers now signed up and accessing services and receiving support.  There was a £250K Carers Support Fund available but the pressure on that budget was now huge and were looking to reduce payments made because of the increase in demand of carers accessing services.   They were working to identify hidden carers and were undertaking particular work around dementia carers in Devonport.  There was a Carers Discount Scheme running with 29 local businesses signed up.

In response to questions raised, it was reported that -

(a)           evidence suggests there are social differences and perceptions on caring  in other communities which could lead to uncovering need without being in a position of meeting the demand.  It was reported that there was a need to identify the hidden carers and this was highlighted to them as part of the consultation.  They had tried to demonstrate and identify the hidden carers and provide support.  They were exploring other avenues to maximise funding;

(b)        they were supporting staff at PCC and CCG and had displays within Windsor House to promoting this.  They had adapted policies and working hours to accommodate a caring role and raising awareness with manager’s and had made a good start.  Carers Right Week was also aimed at our providers;

            (c)        to identify the hidden young carers they were working with key partners, developing toolkits for schools, delivering training to governors and  various practical things to help identify those hard to reach young carers;

(d)          there was a dedicated youth worker working with young carers.  Young Carers at present did not sit on the Carers Strategy Partnership Board or the Steering Group.  They would need to ensure that they were fit for purpose before allowing young carers to sit on the board and Steering group.

(e)          some of the discounts the Carers Discount Scheme would not be appropriate for Young Carers but the next step was to explore cards for young people.

Agreed that –

1.         The Caring Panel commends the Plymouth Carers Strategy 2014-18 to Cabinet.

2.         The Caring Panel congratulates commissioners and carers on the development of the strategy and associated action plans.

3.         Progress against the action plan to be presented to the panel in March 2015.

4.         The Caring Panel recommends to the Co-operative Scrutiny Board that the Ambitious Plymouth Panel revisit the recommendations from the Young Carers review held in 2011.

5.         Officers from Plymouth City Council and the Clinical Commissioning Group to identify and help own staff who are carers.

(Councillor Mrs Bowyer left partway through this item.

Councillor Bowie was present for this item).