Agenda item
Cabinet Member: Councillor W. Gareth Roberts
To receive a report by the Cabinet Member for Adults, Health and Wellbeing on the above.
(Copy enclosed)
*12.20 p.m. – 12.40
p.m.
Minutes:
(a)
A report was submitted
by the Cabinet Member for Adults, Health and Well-being, outlining the findings
and recommendations deriving from an investigation held on the type of support
available to unpaid carers in Gwynedd.
(b)
The Adults and Children
Carers Support Officer guided members through the report and noted the main
points as noted below:
·
That Carers Wales had
appointed an officer for the North to promote the identification of hidden
carers
·
That the Gwynedd and
Anglesey Carers Partnership Group had drawn up a strategy and one of the
objectives was identifying hidden carers
·
Assessments would
continue to be undertaken and an attempt would be made to do this as soon as
possible
·
In terms of feedback
from carers, fewer than 100 out of 500 questionnaires had been returned and the
responses to the questionnaires returned by the carers of individuals with mental
health issues were relatively encouraging
·
In terms of information
and advice, it was noted that guidance had been produced and was back on the
website to draw attention of staff / carers with relevant links
·
We were collaborating
with Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board
·
An additional grant had
been received from Welsh Government to provide respite care for carers however
attention was drawn to the fact that there was an insufficient number of people
working in the field to provide respite care, specifically in Meirionnydd.
·
That savings and cuts
were affecting the service.
·
Welsh language - that
documents received from the health service needed to be translated into Welsh,
and some providers were experiencing difficulties in recruiting Welsh-speaking
staff, particularly in the south of the County.
Elected members were encouraged to inform the service whether they were
aware of hidden carers in their wards who looked after family members so that
the service could offer them advice.
(c)
Members were given an
opportunity to scrutinise the report and the Adults and Children Carers Support
Officer responded as noted below:
·
it was asked whether the
service was fit for purpose and in response, it was noted that the requirements
of the new Act were challenging, and there was a need to collaborate with
partners in the field. The need to be
realistic and attempt to focus on two or three of the objectives were
needed.
·
It was reiterated that
addressing the requirements of the act was important and the need to consider
how the best value for the money could be obtained by reviewing and
prioritising
·
In terms of addressing
needs and supporting young people who were carers, there was close
collaboration with Bangor University which offered a period of respite for
young carers so that they had a taster of what was available and to encourage
them to gain a qualification in care.
In addition, there was collaboration with the Regional Group.
·
From the grant of
£114,000 received for 2017/18, £60,000 had been shared with the third sector
and the rest supported carers with learning disabilities, Derwen and carers who
cared for a sibling.
·
In response to an
observation made by a member regarding a personal experience when a family had
received very good initial support following a patient's discharge from
hospital, carers had not revisited the family, Members were encouraged to refer
families to the Carers Outreach Service which was a one-stop-shop so that they
could be referred to the correct sector.
According to the new Act, emphasis was placed on families supporting
preventative support in the community.
·
Reference was made to a
scheme for young children who were carers where it was possible for them to
have ipads and the service would be able to contact them through Skype and it
was hoped that there would be more information about this scheme in due course
·
In terms of the third
sector providing care, it was noted that families wished to stick with the same
carers
·
The fact that the
service was more creative to identify carers was welcomed and whilst Hafan y
Sêr was an excellent resource, there was concern about the provision for
families where the children did not meet Derwen's criteria. In response, it was noted that the Service
was aware of the situation and it was hoped that there would be a resolution
soon.
The Head of Adults, Health and Well-being Department added that he would
be in a position to share information regarding the creation of Uned Tan y
Marian in approximately six weeks.
Resolved: To accept, note and give
thanks for the report.
Supporting documents: