Agenda item

To receive a presentation setting out the Council’s support for unpaid carers.

The Sub-committee received a presentation from Adam Graham, Principal Social Worker (Adults), which set out the support the Council provides for unpaid carers.

It was noted that the Council has an Equally Well Strategy that is a high-level plan to tackle health inequalities in North Tyneside.  Given that carers experience significant inequalities, being more likely to experience poverty, unemployment and poor mental and physical health, support for unpaid carers in an important part of achieving progress towards the ambitions of Equally Well.

The Sub-committee noted the work of the North Tyneside Carers’ Partnership Board which is responsible for raising awareness and improving health and social care services for carers in North Tyneside.  The Board’s membership includes decision makers from NHS providers, North Tyneside Council, Local voluntary sector organisations, North Tyneside Carers’ Centre, the North Tyneside Parent Carer Forum and Healthwatch North Tyneside.

The presentation set out the Authority’s legal duties to assess the needs of carers of all ages, taking a ‘whole family’ approach to ensure the wellbeing of the family around a person with care and support needs is supported.  This includes support for young carers.

The report and presentation also set out how North Tyneside Council fulfils its legal duties, including via screening through the initial assessment process.  Carers are assessed using the Ways to Wellbeing for Carers assessment model which is based on statutory guidance and evidence based practice and was developed in partnership with North Tyneside Carers’ Centre.

The presentation outlined some of the challenges facing the Council in this area, and the action the Council is taking to improve carer wellbeing, to drive greater practitioner focus on carer wellbeing and to improve the availability of respite care resources.

It was noted that the development of a new carers’ strategy is underway with the involvement of Carers’ Partnership Board members.  The new strategy is due to be completed by late 2023/early 2024.

Members noted the information provided in the report and presentation and raised some questions.

Members asked whether the Council currently mapped carers by location or ward as it was felt this information may be useful for ward councillors to understand how many carers were in their ward.  This information could also help the Council to understand whether carers are close to the services they may need or whether they may be isolated, and would help to ensure resources are targeted at the right place and that services are accessible.  It was felt it was also important to identify any link between carers and areas of higher deprivation and poverty.

It was noted that the location of carers is not currently mapped.  However, the Carers’ Centre does aim to spread support across the borough as it is known that carers can often face difficulties in travelling to services.

It was highlighted that the Council had adapted the framework to improve how carers are identified and to offer carer assessments.  There had been an increase in the number of carers identified but it is not clear whether this is due to there being an increase in the number of carers in the borough or a result of more carers being identified through the system.

Members asked about how the Council identifies young carers in order to offer assessments.  It was noted that actions had been taken to raise awareness of young carers, particularly through carers champions in schools and GP practices, and also to raise awareness among young carers themselves who may not recognise themselves as carers. 

It was noted that 21 out of 24 GP practices in the Borough had signed up to the GP young carers scheme and this had led to 180 referrals to the Carers’ Centre, up from 12 the previous year.

It was highlighted that the Council holds a range of data, including data on poverty and deprivation and also Council Tax information.  There were questions about whether Council data could be used more effectively to identify carers at an earlier stage.

There was some discussion about the need to identify if carers may need support when this may not appear obvious and where carers are not asking to be assessed.  It was highlighted that professionals are aware of this issue and training is in place for social workers.  

There was some discussion about the wider support for carers that the Council could offer in relation to housing, travel and also possibly a leisure and cultural offer.  It was noted that there had been some discussion between the Carers Centre and the ICS around a Carer’s passport to identify carers to health services.  There may also be scope to extend this to offer access or discounts to other services.  This is something that is being explored.

The Chair thanked officers for the report.