Agenda item

The Panel considered a draft version of the Joint Carers Commissioning Strategy for the Council and Clinical Commissioning Group for the period 2015-20.

The Co-Chair of Slough Carers Partnership Board, Jadine Glitzenhirn, and the Assistant Director Adult Social Care updated Members on the key elements of the strategy and invited the Panel to comment on and contribute to the development of the Strategy before it was presented to the Cabinet and Slough Wellbeing Board for approval later in the year.  It was estimated that 14% of Slough’s population were carers, higher than the national average of 12% and this was likely to be an underestimate given the difficulties identifying carers.  The new strategy updated the interim Joint Carers Strategy 2014-15, which had covered the period including the introduction of the Care Act 2014, and it supported a number of national and local priorities.  The four proposed local priorities were identifying and recognising carers; realising and releasing the potential of carers; a life outcome of caring; and supporting carers to help them stay healthy.

Ms Glitzenhirn gave the Panel an insight into her experiences as a carer and explained the role of the Partnership in providing the right support at the right time to Slough’s carers.  The voice of carers had come through more strongly than before in the new strategy, but it was recognised that more engagement was required in the future.  A number of specific priorities and issues were highlighted including raising awareness of the contribution of carers; the challenges in identifying carers; and the particular support required by young carers.

The Panel discussed the potential ways to improve the identification of carers, which could include using the media to tell the stories of carers and improving the GPs register of carers.  The Assistant Director explained the work being undertaken by professionals working across social care to identify carers and highlighted the opportunities of working more closely with voluntary and community sector organisations through the new VCS Strategy.  It was recognised that many carers would benefit from time and support with other carers and support groups and it was felt that provision in the area could be expanded.  Members discussed a range of other issues including carers assessments and support for young carers including the potential implications arising from the transfer of services to Slough Children’s Services Trust.

At the conclusion of the discussion the Panel welcomed the work undertaken to prepare the document and agreed to endorse the new strategy.  It was also agreed to refer a number of issues to the Cabinet when it considered the strategy for approval.  These issues included the further action that could be undertaken by the Council to identify carers and raise public awareness of the vital role they played in the local community; a request to the Commissioner for Health & Wellbeing to raise the effectiveness of the GP register of carers with the CCG and bring a progress report to a future meeting of the Panel; and that the Cabinet direct Council departments to consider and reflect the new strategy in their service areas to ensure they could better meet the needs of carers.

The Chair thanked the Assistant Director and particularly Ms Glitzenhirn for the report.

Resolved –

(a)  That the Joint Carers’ Commissioning Strategy 2015-2020: ‘Slough Caring For Our Carers’ be endorsed.

(b)  That the following matters be referred to the Cabinet:

1.  That the Cabinet considers the further steps the Council can take to identify, support and raise public awareness of the role of carers by widely publicising the Strategy to partners, community organisations, schools and the media.

2.  That the Commissioner for Health & Wellbeing discuss with Slough Clinical Commissioning Group how the GP carers register could be improved to better identify carers and improve access to the available support, with the Panel to receive a progress report at a future meeting.

3.  That the Cabinet direct Council departments to take the Strategy into account when services are reviewed to ensure all relevant Council services are compliant with the requirements of the Care Act and better support Slough’s carers.