Decision details

The Board received a briefing from the Carers Partnership Board.

Andy Scorer and Claire May-Molinero were present  and with the consent of the Chair addressed the meeting.

The Board discussed an number of issues including:

·  The activities of the Carers Partnership Board;

·  The priorities of the Carers Action Plan;

·  The importance of collaboration with and inclusion of Carers when designing services to help design services in coproduction with those that require the services and not impose a service on them;

·  The need for hospitals and doctors surgeries to be more aware of the difficulties that changing or cancelling appointment may have on carers; 

·  Support for young carers between 18-25 years of age. It was acknowledged that more work on aiding young people to transition from young carers to adult cares was required;

·  The significant economic costs to both the City and to the indivdual in ensuring that people can best fulfil their caring rules and take an active part in the community;

·  The amount of change within the local system with the development of the Integrated Neighbourhoods Team and the need to ensure that support for carers.

Board Members what actions they would take back to their organisation following the presentation members listed a number of actions including:

• Wendy Rees, Southern Health, committed to look at how Southern Health can take the impact on carers into account when appointments are moved.   

• Dr Sarah Young, Integrated Care Board (ICB), committed to refresh good practice guidance for GP surgeries and encourage them to share good practice in the City as a means of driving improvement.  Dr Young will also ensure co-production of the new Integrated Neighbourhood Teams work. 

• Councillor Winning felt that as a large employer, the City Council must be carer-friendly.  As such Cllr Winning would like to ensure that the Local Authority has embedded support for unpaid carers in the City Council workforce, which would result in a happier and healthier workforce. 

• Trevor Smith, University Hospitals Southampton, committed to look at the process for short term cancellation of operations in hospital and the impact this has on carers and in doing so will also link with the University Hospitals Southampton Carers’ forum. 

• Debbie Hendry, Unpaid Carers Support Southampton, would like to return and update the Board on the work being done by their service.   

• Kate Concannon, Principal Social Worker for Adult Services committed to work on a ‘menu’ of carers breaks (supported by Accelerated Reform Funding), look at how to better support carers at the hospital via the Accelerated Reform Funding, identify young carers who care for people known to Adult Social Care, update the Adult Social Care ‘Who’s Who’ and share widely, increase the uptake of carers training for Adult Social Care Staff, look at the role of Carers’ Champion in new Adult Social Care teams.  It was noted that although not a board member but had attended for the purposes of this item.

• Dr Debbie Chase, Director of Public Health, committed to work with Dr Sarah Young to contribute to the work around the Integrated Neighbourhoods Team.

• Jamie Schofield, Integrated Commissioning Unit, committed to encourage the ICB to have a lead for carers. He will also encourage the ICB to revisit strategically where the Carers’ Forum fits into the wider system, as a co-produced piece of work.  (Jamie is not a board member but attended for this item). 

• Rob Kurn, Southampton Voluntary Services, committed to raise awareness of unpaid carers, continue to take referrals in through SO:Linked and share information on the ‘Next Steps’ transitions service for young people moving into adulthood.  He also explained that the SVS programme  ‘Coproduction Corner’ helps organisations in the City by showing how they can facilitate coproduction of services in the City.

• Rob Henderson, Executive Director of Children’s Services & Learning (DCS) agreed with the commitments made by Kate Concannon and Jamie Schofield, and emphasised the importance of coproduction and work around transition.     

• Claire Edgar, Executive Director for Wellbeing (DASS) emphasised the importance of promoting the work around carers in the city, and making sure that young carers are known to adult social care. 

• Mike Roe raised that young carers often do not go to university because they are caring.  Debbie Hendry confirmed that Unpaid Carers Support Southampton are addressing this and supporting young carers in this area specifically. 

RESOLVED:

1.  Noted the presentation and update from the Carers Partnership Board; and

2.  Agreed the support that members of the Health and Wellbeing Board to progress the priorities of the Carers Partnership Board.