Agenda item

The Assistant Director of Adult Social Work and the Health and Social Care Integration Manager presented the report on the Carers Strategy 20/21 and provided an overview of the achievements and the contribution the Council had made to the delivery of the strategy. The report detailed what the Council and its partners had been doing to support carers in Hillingdon and supported the 2018 – 2022 Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy priority of developing integrated, high quality social care and health services within the community of at home.

The Committee was informed that Cabinet received an annual update on the delivery of the strategy and this report enabled the Committee to consider the update before it went to Cabinet and provide comments. 

The Committee heard that the importance of supporting the needs of carers to the sustainability of the local health and care system was recognised by health and care partners, particularly considering the pandemic. The report identified progress on the specific actions identified for 2020/21 and also how the Council and partners had responded to the pressures resulting from the pandemic. In this context proposed priorities for 2021/22 included:

·       Restoring face to face services, especially so that Carers could have ‘time out’ away from where they provided care.

·       Exploring with Carer Leads in GP practices and Carers Trust Hillingdon how to identify and support Carers who may be reluctant to attend practices.

·       Refining the process for identifying and recording Carers with multiple caring responsibilities within Social Care.

·       Delivering the guide for people who suddenly became Carers.

·       Reviewing the role of the Carers’ Strategy Group. This group previously had responsibility for overseeing the development and delivery of the Carers’ Strategy, but, as mentioned in paragraph 10, Covid-19 restrictions prevented it from meeting during 2020/21.

It was reported that Carers Trust Hillingdon led the Hillingdon Carers Trust Partnership (HCP) and held the Carer Support Services contract with the Council on behalf of HCP. It was reported that the HCP had been successful in meeting the needs of carers and that the partnership model had enabled additional resources to be secured to provide a range of services without the need for carers having to undergo a carer’s assessment. The Committee requested that any comparative performance information be shared.

Following Member questions, it was confirmed that baseline estimates for the number of carers in the Borough was based on the 2011 Census, an approach also used by Carers Trust UK. It was noted that data from the 2021 Census that had just been completed would provide more up to date information, including reflecting the impact of the pandemic on the number of people undertaking a caring role. The Committee was reminded a review of the Carers’ Strategy had been deferred pending the availability of the data from the census.

There had been ongoing work on the guidance for people who suddenly become carers however there needed to be partner and carer consultation before this could be delivered. It was highlighted that there still was information, advice and support was available for people in these circumstances. It was noted that Carers’ Trust Hillingdon was fully embedded within the health and care integration programme in the Borough, which had helped to promote an understanding of the needs of carers. Health and care partners therefore understood the need to make referrals to the Carers Trust of residents identified as undertaking a caring role.

In response to Members questions regarding the suitability of guides for young carers, it was clarified that there were two documents being considered as the current guide was unsuitable for young carers. The Council was keen to avoid having a document that was too long.

It was noted that further information would be provided on what work was being done to support young carers and how effective the interventions were. The Committee asked if there were any specific metrics related to young carers. The Committee also asked if there was a minimum age for a young person to be undertaking caring responsibilities below which the Council would need to intervene. It was also queried whether schools are required to inform the Council if a young person is undertaking caring responsibilities.

Following Member queries, it was noted that standardised packs and information were available for carers in GP waiting rooms however it was important to ensure that these were tailored to all audiences. It was recognised that one approach did not work for all however, there was a balance to be struck with the practicalities involved in maintaining supplies of up to date information across 45 practices.  This was an issue that would be considered by the Carers Strategy Group.

Members queried why there were only 63 participants in the online carers forum meetings and it was noted that this represented an increase on numbers attending previous face to face meetings. The Committee was advised that no single mechanism for engaging carers would work for all people, which is why HCP applied different approaches

The Committee queried the basis for the 2021/22 increase in funding for Hillingdon MIND. The Committee was advised that this was based on a request from MIND and the decision was made by Cabinet at its December 2020 meeting.

It was highlighted that 457 counselling sessions had been delivered by Hillingdon Mind to 42 carers, which represented a 45% increase in demand on 2019/20. It was confirmed that in response to pandemic-related infection control measures many services had adapted to providing virtual rather than face to face support.

Concerns were raised about how GP practices would be able to deliver the carer lead role when taking consideration the many pressures they were under. It was reiterated that 44 out of 45 practices had identified carer leads, which demonstrated a recognition of the importance of supporting carers. It was noted that reinvigorating this role as part of Covid recovery was an identified priority for 2021/22 and HCP would be supporting practices. Officers advised the Committee that it was unlikely that establishing a consistent approach across the Borough in 2021/22 would be achievable.

The Committee stated that it would welcome data being displayed in charts in future reports. More information about challenges faced as well as the achievements would also be welcomed. The Committee expressed a particular interest in carers with multiple caring responsibilities and also the support that is being provided to young carers.

The Committee commended officers and the HCP for their joint work. Members welcomed the report and supporting illustrative case studies, and the priorities for 2021/22 were noted. Although the pandemic had presented significant challenges for carers and the HCP, it was evident that many of the points raised were already being addressed and there had been a vast improvement in partnership working. Members were particularly pleased with progress in developing mental health support provision for carers, the need for which had grown considerably over the last year during the pandemic.

RESOLVED:

That the Committee:

1.    Noted progress against the Carers’ Strategy delivery plan activity for 2020/21.

2.    Noted the proposed priorities for 2021/22.

3.    Delegated to the Chairman and Labour Lead to agree a summary of comments on the Carers Strategy for Cabinet.