To receive a presentation from Claire Easton, Chief Executive of North Tyneside Carers’ Centre.
Minutes:
Claire Easton, Chief Executive of the North Tyneside Carers’ Centre, and Paul Jones of Healthwatch North Tyneside, attended the meeting and provided a presentation setting out the role of the Carers’ Centre.
The Sub-committee was informed that the North Tyneside Carers’ Centre provides practical and emotional support to young and adult carers, from the age of 5 – 97 years. The Centre has 6263 adult carers and 638 young carers registered with it and carers are represented at every level of the organisation. The services developed by the centre over the years have been informed by the needs of carers and strategically the Centre has built strong relationships across health and social care and are a key partner in the development and delivery of North Tyneside’s Commitment to Carers. The centre ensures that the views of carers shape local delivery plans and support partners to identify and support carers.
Claire Easton outlined the many areas that the Centre contributes to policy and developments in relation to carers including: training for professional in health, social care, education and the community and voluntary sector; working with the Council to codesign the Carers Ways to Wellbeing Assessment process; working with the Integrated Care Board to develop and implement a ‘Carer Friendly GP Award’ scheme to improve identification and support within primary care; and working with schools across the borough to help identify and support young carers and developing a Young Carers in School Programme to provide schools with resources and guidance.
The presentation highlighted the findings of the survey undertaken by Healthwatch North Tyneside and the North Tyneside Carers’ Centre on behalf of the North Tyneside Carers Partnership Board earlier in 2023. The survey was aimed at adult carers only and 681 responses had been received. This was a follow up to an earlier survey carried out in 2021 during the pandemic. Some of the key messages from the survey were:
· The predicted improvement in carers experiences since 2021, following the easing of pandemic restrictions, was not seen in the survey results, with responses similar or worse across all themes to those received in 2021;
· Carers are often struggling to cope;
· Isolation continues to be a major issue for carers with 41% of carers saying they felt more isolated than the previous year (which was during the pandemic);
· Carers are providing more care than before – this appears to be due to the needs of people they care for increasing and is exacerbated by delays in NHS treatment and challenges in organising care packages;
· Cost of living challenges – heating, transport, special diets;
· Significantly worse emotional, financial and physical wellbeing;
· Support from services has improved compared to the 2021 pandemic survey, with some good examples of professionals working hard to provide support in very difficult situations;
· Carers don’t feel valued;
· Challenges in knowing where to get help when they need it, getting timely support, the impact of caring on wellbeing and joined up support for the carer as well as the person they care for;
· Mixed picture on support from employers for those with caring roles;
· Not enough support available for carers in the borough.
It was noted that the Carers Partnership Board have agreed to produce an action plan to respond to the key issues from the survey.
Members highlighted the outstanding work of the Carers’ Centre in providing support for carers and stated that the report had been very valuable in providing information to the Sub-committee.
Members noted the issues raised about employers and that some employers were more supportive than others, and questioned whether there was any information about particular sectors of employment that were more supportive than others. It was suggested that more detailed questions about this could be included in future surveys. It was also noted that the North of Tyne Combined Authority was undertaking work with employers through the good work pledge to help address support for carers.
Cllr Kirwin highlighted the issues raised about isolation and stated that he thought this could be a particular issue in relation to those caring for those with dementia. He asked whether there were any actions aimed at societal change along the lines of the dementia friendly communities initiative to help raise awareness, support and acceptance through the community. It was noted that this area of work had not been specifically included in the carers action plan but it was something that was being taken forward via other specialisms, for example via the Autism Strategy.
Members raised a concern about the three GP practices in the Borough that had opted not to take part in the GP carer support scheme and it was hoped that they could be encouraged to engage with the scheme going forward.
The Chair thanked Julie Easton and Paul Jones for attending the meeting and for the informative presentation.