Agenda item
Unpaid Carers Scrutiny Report
The report summarises findings from the scrutiny challenge session carried out assessing services for unpaid carers in the borough. The report puts forward a number of recommendations to be put before the Health Scrutiny Panel for their consideration, and referral on to Cabinet for agreement.
Minutes:
The report was introduced by Tahir Alam, Strategy Policy and Performance. The report outlined the findings from a scrutiny challenge session held on Wednesday 13th May 2015 at the Tower Hamlets Carers Centre. The challenge session focused on a number ofkey questions relevant to the changes being proposed by the the Care Act 2014.
The Care Act 2014 consolidated all previous legislations around carers, support services and social care into one overarching statute. It was noted that the Act placed a statutory duty on all local authorities, with major implications for adult social care and support providers, the people who used services and their carers.
It was noted that the new changes came into force in April 2015. The most important changes were the way in which local authorities should carry out carers assessments and needs assessments, and how local authorities should determine who was eligible for support. The provision of effective and relevant support to carers was a key mechanism to ensure that carers were able to continue in their caring role. This included improving the quality of life of carers by allowing them to have a life outside of their caring role, enabling them to achieve their education and employment ambitions and support them to remain mentally and physically healthy.
It was noted that the Council had developed a new Local Carers Plan to meet the requirements of the changes brought in by the Care Act 2014. This was an initial one year plan until the implication of the Care Act in meeting the needs of carers more effectively were fully understood.
The Carers Plan included a focus on the following:
· Early Intervention and support
· Information and advice
· Prevention
· Urgent response
· Carer assessment
· Cared-for assessment
· Support planning and personal budgets
Arising from the impact of the Care Act, the Council considered that it was necessary to provide its carers’ service which achieved an appropriate balance of specialist and community services.
The Director of Public Health undertook to raise the issue of the Carer’s Plan at the Council’s Corporate Management Team to investigate the possibility of additional support for the proposals in the report. It was agreed that officers produce an action plan within six to eight weeks for the proposed Carers Plan.
Action By: Somen Banerjee, Director of Public Health
Tahir Alam, Strategy Policy and Performance
Members highlighted the high level of unpaid carers caring for family members, in difficult circumstances and often unaware of the support that the Council, local health and third sector providers could offer them to support them and enable them to continue in their role caring role. It was noted, following discussion, that support could be accessed across a range of Council services such as Ideas Stores, GP Practices etc.
It was agreed that an additional recommendation be included in the resolution that welfare advisers could be stationed at a range of Council services such as Ideas Stores, GP Practices to identify carers and assist them with accessing the range of services on offer both by the Council and organisations across the Borough for themselves and for those they cared for.
It was proposed that officers ensure a joined up working of all relevant organisations such as the NHS, CCG and the Council to ensure that the provisons of the Care Act 2014 were fully met.
Action By: Somen Banerjee, Director of Public Health
Sandra Moore, Tower Hamlets CCG
Tahir Alam, Strategy Policy and Performance
David Burbridge, Healthwatch Tower Hamlets
RESOLVED -
1. That the report and recommendations contained in it be approved subject to the inclusion of an additional recommendation as follows:
That welfare advisers could be stationed at at a range of Council services such as Ideas Stores, GP Practices to identify carers and assist them with accessing the range of services on offer both by the Council and organisations across the Borough for themselves and for those they cared for.
2. That the report of the Scrutiny Challenge of Unpaid Carers be referred to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee for submission to Cabinet.
3. That, following the submission of the report to Cabinet, an Action Plan be submitted to the Health Scrutiny Panel within 8 weeks for consideration.
Action By: Somen Banerjee, Director of Public Health
Tahir Alam, Strategy Policy and Performance
Supporting documents:
- Cover sheet Carers Challange Report 2015, item 7.1 PDF 58 KB
- Carers Scrutiny Challange Report TA 2015 FINAL Luke, item 7.1 PDF 192 KB