Agenda item

Cabinet Members      Councillor W. Gareth Roberts

                                    Councillor Mair Rowlands

 

To receive the final report of the Scrutiny Investigation into Carers’ Provision. 

 

(Copy enclosed)

Submitted - the final report of the Scrutiny Investigation into carers' provision, and the Chair of the Investigation, Councillor R.H. Wyn Williams, took the opportunity to thank the following members and officers for their contribution to the comprehensive report:

 

Cllr E. Selwyn Griffiths

Cllr Siân Wyn Hughes

Cllr Linda Ann Wyn Jones

Cllr Eryl Jones-Williams

Cllr Ann Williams

Cllr Eirwyn Williams

 

Gareth James - Member Support and Scrutiny Manager

Bethan Adams - Member Support Officer

 

The Member Support and Scrutiny Manager elaborated that the work that had been undertaken by the Investigation was concise but, nevertheless, contained much useful information. Attention was drawn to the fact that 227 individuals had responded to the detailed questionnaire and that this helped give credibility to the findings of the Investigation. It was noted that the contribution of approximately 20 individuals who were interviewed had been very valuable and that the Investigation welcomed the opportunity to work with the Executive in terms of developing a policy that would contribute towards improving the provision for carers in the County.

 

 

In response, the Cabinet Member for Children and Young People thanked the officers for the work that was achieved by the Investigation and she noted the following main points:

 

(i)            It was not completely clear whether all recommendations referred to two Cabinet Members, namely the Cabinet Member for Children and Young People and the Cabinet Member for Adults, Health and Well-being.

 

(ii)           With regards to recommendation 1, whilst agreeing that there was much work to be achieved, she noted that work was being carried out in an attempt to identify hidden carers.                

 

(iii)          In the context of recommendation 4, it was noted that a comment was needed in terms of the wider picture, it was questioned whether commissioning the work would achieve this. It was trusted that information could be shared / promoted more effectively and that, through this, we would have better arrangements for identifying the carers.

 

(iv)         In terms of engaging with everyone, especially the parents of disabled children, it was noted that more work needed to be done on this. 

 

The additional points below were highlighted by individual Members:

 

·         Although the investigation had been completed in a short period, more investigations of the same type were welcomed for the future.

·         There was concern for the cuts to the vehicle service to transport individuals to respite care, and an example was noted, namely Plas Pengwaith Residential Home, Llanberis.

·         Ensure that the service was bilingual, and it was possibly appropriate for the Council's Language Committee to carry out a further investigation to this end.

·         The Department was thanked for the expenditure for the extension at Llys Cadfan, Tywyn for day care and respite service. 

·         Local colleges should be collaborated with closely to promote careers in the field of care.

·         Early intervention was vital and agencies / authorities should be worked with in partnership so that arguments could be presented jointly to the Government to ensure that sufficient resources were available to respond to the situations.  

 

In response to some of the above observations, the Head of Adults, Health and Well-being noted:

 

(a)  That the Department had looked at the effective use of the fleet vehicles and, by doing so, it was discovered that continuing to use some of them was not sustainable.  Consequently, arrangements were changed in terms of vehicles, but it was hastened to note that the use of vehicles did not disrupt the ability of individuals to receive respite care. 

(b)  In terms of the field of children, everyone was reminded that a respite care centre was going to be opened soon on the Ysgol Hafod Lon site, and it was ensured that an invite for the official opening would be sent to the Members following a confirmation of the registration.

 

 

The Head of Adults, Health and Well-being noted:

 

·         From the adults' perspective, much work was to be achieved and an investigation had highlighted gaps that needed additional practical work or further research work. 

·         With regards to capacity to work on the recommendations, the Department would appreciate if there was an element of prioritising - but assurance was given that the Department would give attention to all of the recommendations through work that was already ongoing. He noted that the capacity speed to respond to the recommendations was going to vary.

·         It was trusted that IAA work of the Children and Young People Department would be moving forward earlier than the work of the Adults, Health and Well-being Department, and if the IAA procedure could be achieved correctly, it would make such a difference not only to the users, but to the service also. We would have to learn through trial and error and ensure that information was shared in public locations so that individuals could self-service if possible, before contacting the Department.

·         It was acknowledged that the mental health provision needed attention and was challenging, mainly due to a lack of clarity regarding the type of available service by the Health Board and the local authority. The integrating elements were not in place at present and that was a key step to be able to move on.    

 

To follow, a discussion held place regarding the need to prioritise the recommendations and there was a consensus of opinion amongst Members to approve and prioritise them as follows:

 

Recommendation 4

Recommendation 6

Recommendation 8

 

Also, it was noted that recommendations 1 and 2 were important and were seen as a basis and a development of how to engage with young carers and it was asked how to develop methodology to connect with carers with whom contact had so far failed.

 

Resolved:       (a) To accept and approve all the recommendations but to ask the Cabinet Members to give priority to developing the following first:

 

Recommendation 4

Recommendation 6

Recommendation 8

 

                                    (b) Monitor the developments of the recommendations.