Agenda item

Purpose of the report: Scrutiny of Services

The Committee continues to monitor the Service’s performance on securing positive outcomes for carers. The Committee will scrutinise an update report from the Carers Practice & Performance Group.

This report provides an update on ASC’s progress in practice improvement and general support provided to carers who are supporting Surrey residents.

Declarations of interest: None.

Witnesses:

Mikki Toogood, Carer Development Manager, Personal Care and Support

Shelley Head Senior Manager, Personal Care and Support

Sarah Mitchell, Strategic Director for Adult Social Care

Mel Few, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care

Steve Cosser, Cabinet Associate for Adult Social Care

Key points raised during the discussion:

1.    The Committee was given an update on how the Directorate worked to support carers in Surrey. Officers stated that it was important to not view carers as a resource, and to recognise that they had a right to an assessment of their support needs. The Committee expressed disappointment regarding the number of respondents to the first statutory Carer survey, and encouraged officers to seek ways of improving this figure.

2.    The Committee discussed potential barriers to engaging young carers. A question was raised as to how the Directorate liaised with schools to identify and support young carers. Officers commented that the Directorate commissioned outreach work, delivered by Surrey Young Carers; it was also highlighted that a Young Carers Strategy Group met quarterly to have oversight of the multi-agency approach to supporting young carers. Officers informed the Committee that this group included young carers and was chaired by the Chief Executive of Action for Carers. The Committee was also informed that there was a Young Carers protocol in place between Adult Social Care and Children’s Services. The Directorate also funded a project worker from Action for Carers to support the transition for young carers when they reached adulthood.

3.    The Committee was informed that the Young Carers’ assessment form had been redesigned with the input of young carers in order to make it more accessible. Members questioned whether whole family assessments were appropriate when ascertaining young carers’ needs; it was clarified by officers that a whole family assessment would always seek to obtain the views of those involved in a way that they were able to express their individual views without pressure from others.

4.    The Committee expressed the view that every school should ensure that they had a school governor with responsibility for supporting young carers. The Cabinet Associate for Adult Social Care offered to work with colleagues to investigate implementing this.

5.    The Committee queried what efforts had been made to ensure that black and minority ethnic communities were also being engaged with. Officers outlined that the Assistant Practitioner Level 2 Carer (AP2 Carer) role had a specific responsibility around ensuring that such communities were being engaged with. It was highlighted that there were a number of informal networks that were being utilised to support these communities.

6.    The Committee raised a question as to whether the Directorate would continue funding in 2014/15 for the Grant Funded Support for Carers listed in the report. It was clarified by officers that these funding arrangements would continue into 14/15.

Resolved:

·         That the Committee recognises the Directorate’s ongoing improvement in respect to supporting Carers.

Recommendations:

1)    That each school has a governor responsible for supporting young carers.

Action by: Cabinet Associate for Adult Social Care

2)    That the Directorate explores ways in which it can improve the number of carers providing feedback through the Carer survey.

Action by: Carer Development Manager

Actions/further information to be provided:

The Committee to receive the Surrey Young Carers Joint Working Protocol for information.

Committee Next Steps:

None.