Agenda item

To consider a report by Councillor Bobby Feeley, Lead Member for Social Care and Children’s Services (copy enclosed) on the implementation of the new Carers Strategies (Wales) Measure 2010 as set out in the North Wales Carers Information & Consultation Strategy 2012 – 2015.

 

Councillor R.L. Feeley presented the report which detailed the implementation of the new Carers Strategies (Wales) Measure 2010 (the Carers Measure) as now set out in the North Wales Carers Information and Consultation Strategy 2012 – 2015.

 

RESOLVED:- that Cabinet approves the North Wales Carers Information and Consultation Strategy, 2012-2015, and the partnership approach with Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board and the third sector in regard to its implementation. 

 

Councillor R.L. Feeley presented the report which detailed the implementation of the new Carers Strategies (Wales) Measure 2010 (the Carers Measure) as now set out in the North Wales Carers Information and Consultation Strategy 2012 – 2015.  A copy of the Regional Strategy had been included as Appendix 1 to the report. 

 

The Regional Strategy had been approved by Welsh Government (WG) and each of the six Local Authorities in North Wales had been required to scrutinise and approve the Regional Strategy.  The report outlined how the Regional Strategy would address the requirements of the Carers Measure and the Partnerships Scrutiny Committee had expressed their support the implementation of the Strategy. 

 

The Measure, Regulations and Guidance on implementing the Measure had been issued to all Local Health Boards and Trusts, and to Social Services (the ‘designated authorities’) in January 2012, and this was the first time that statutory duties in regard to Carers had been placed on Health Authorities in Wales.

 

The Partnerships Scrutiny Committee had considered a report which outlined the requirements of the new Carers Strategies (Wales) Measure 2010, and in particular the requirement to publish and implement a regional Information and Consultation Strategy for Carers. 

 

The Head of Adult and Business Services (HABS) explained that the Local Health Boards had been designated as the ‘lead authority’ in the implementation of the Carers Measure Regulations and the North Wales Carers Leads Strategic Group (NWCSLG) had been established in 2011 to develop the Regional Strategy.  In addition, BCUHB had established a Carers Strategies (Wales) Measure Project Board to scrutinise the work of the NWCSLG and provide advice and assurance to the Health Board that it was meeting its responsibilities with regard to the Carers Measure.

 

The WG had concluded that the Strategy was proactive and demonstrated strong partnership working between the Health Board, six Local Authorities and Third Sector organisations.  Some areas for improvement had been identified and these included the need for a separate chapter on young carers, strengthening some of the Key Actions for Year 3, especially those on staff and carer training, and stating how the Strategy would relate to Black and Minority Ethnic communities and other groups with protected characteristics.  The mental health element of the Strategy also required strengthening and the WG were looking at ways of providing support to the Health Boards. 

 

The key objectives of the Regional Strategy included:-

 

o        All NHS and local authority professionals will be made aware of their responsibilities in relation to the Carers Measure through opportunistic awareness raising and staff training.

o        Carers will be identified at the earliest opportunity.

o        Carers will be given sufficient timely information according to their needs.

o        Where patient consent is withheld, carers will be provided with as much information that can be shared without breaching patient confidentiality to enable them to carry out their caring role safely.

o        Every carer will be informed of their right to an independent assessment of their support needs as a carer

o        Carers will be involved as a matter of course in all decision making processes around care management.

o        NHS staff are able to signpost identified carers to carer support organisations.

 

In order to meet these objectives, the Regional Strategy sets out key actions in relation to:

o        Identification and Signposting of Carers

o        Carers Needs Assessments

o        Information provision

o        Communication and consultation with Carers

o        Staff Training and Carers Training

o        Monitoring the effect of the Carers Measure

 

The report included details of how the decision contributed to the Corporate Priorities, the effect of costs on other services, costs arising from communications activities, consultations carried out and possible risks and the means of reducing them.

 

The HABS explained that the statutory duties that the Carers Measure placed on the Health Board addressed demographic issues in relation to the increasing numbers of individuals taking on a caring role, and increased support to Young Carers would help to address needs set out in Denbighshire’s Young Carer’s Strategy, with the involvement of Education as a key partner. Denbighshire’s Big Plan supported the development of the Regional Strategy, and the implementation of the Strategy actions.  The development of the Regional Strategy would also support the performance measures included in the Big Plan in regard to the numbers of Carers identified and assessed.

 

Details of the allocations to be made available to BCUHB to support the implementation of the regional strategy across North Wales had been detailed in the report.  The HABS confirmed that the responsibility for assessment would remain with the Local Authority and that the potential for an increase in the number of referrals would be monitored to consider capacity issues and implications for future services.  He outlined the processes adopted for the identification of carers, particularly at an early stage, and for the recognition of the level and type of support required.    

 

The Carers Co-ordinator responded to a question from Councillor J. Thompson-Hill and provided details of the range of services commission to provide assistance for carers, which included respite care provision.  At the request of the Leader the Commissioning Officer agreed that information on the support services available for carers in the County could be circulated to Executive Members.

 

The officers provided the following responses to issues raised by Members:-

 

-               Details were provided of the funding and payment process for the provision of services to service users.

-               The HABS explained that funding issues raised in respect of the provision of carers services would be included in the budget planning process for the next financial year.  Councillor R.L. Feeley explained that the cost implication were unclear and would be monitored closely.  The CD:MW made reference to funding and resource provision implications which could impact on and influence the level and range of service provision.

-               The role and remit of Denbighshire’s Carers Champion, Councillor J.A. Davies, was summarised.  It was explained that she was a standing member of the Denbighshire Carers Strategy Group and thereby received regular progress and information updates.

-               In response to concerns raised by Councillor B.A. Smith, the Carers Co-ordinator explained that discharge planning would be an important element of the establishment and development of a formal referral pathway through the health journey.  The strategy currently being developed to improve the process would encompass a care plan and the proposed improvement of the strategy would ensure that the process would be more robust.  She confirmed the importance of the role of General Practitioners in the sign posting process and confirmed their inclusion in the training process.  The Carers Co-ordinator agreed that a carers information leaflet designed by the North Wales Group, to be distributed at staff training sessions, could be circulated to Members when completed.

-               The CD:MW informed Members that the strategy also encompassed young carers and explained that the access point to services for young carers differed to those for adults.  She outlined the work being carried out in Denbighshire Schools and Children’s Services to identify young carers and ensure a higher level of awareness, and confirmed that further work would be undertaken through the regional commissioning of services.

 

The Chief Executive expressed his support for the Strategy and highlighted the good partnership working relationship which existed between the BCUHB and Denbighshire.   He outlined the legal requirements and highlighted the importance of making decisions which would increase and strengthen the level of partnership working which had already been established.

 

Following further discussion, it was:-

 

RESOLVED:- that Cabinet approves the North Wales Carers Information and Consultation Strategy, 2012-2015, and the partnership approach with Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board and the third sector in regard to its implementation.