Agenda item

Presentation of the Cabinet Member Children & Young People

The Overview and Scrutiny Committee had requested details of the service provision for young carers, and now considered a presentation outlining Staffordshire’s provision. A new all age carers strategy had been developed with the five Staffordshire Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) “All Together for Carers (2019-2023)”. Engagement activities whilst developing the strategy had shown that pathways and processes for carers were at times unclear, with no single point for initial contact. It had also highlighted that: practice around carers was variable depending on assessment; commissioned services were not widely known or used; carers wanted a break from caring, with a few hours to pursue an interest often being enough; young carers said their highest need was for support to manage their caring role in the home; and, a need to better identify carers to avoid carer crisis.

It was estimated there were approximately 2000 young carers across Staffordshire.

Implementation of the Staffordshire Together for Carers Service was slightly delayed due to the Pandemic, but finally went live in April 2021. It is an all-age carers service with one lead commissioned provider, n-compass, allowing a more straightforward and clearer contractual arrangement. The initial support and assessment had been brought in-house to enable a one-stop-shop for initial contact. The service pathway aimed to provide:

·         high quality and easily accessible information, advice and guidance that explained when and how to find support and who was likely to be eligible, including an initial assessment on need and active referral on to preventative support and beyond as necessary;

·         an enhanced range of preventative support for carers of all ages in the community to prevent, reduce or delay the need for additional and higher cost support;

·         further assessment and support planning where necessary and access to formal support to meet assessed eligible needs on a basis that was transparent and equitable.

Members received details of service pathways and were pleased to note that work was ongoing with schools in helping to identify young carers.

Members considered the eight generic service outcomes and, in particular, the one specific to young carers, “children & young people with caring responsibilities have the support they need to learn, develop, thrive and enjoy positive childhoods”. Measures of success in achieving this outcome were highlighted as young carers reporting that they knew who to speak to for support, an increase in the number of Young Carers known to their school or education provider in order that appropriate support could be provided when required, with the aim of improving attendance, improving emotional wellbeing and reducing risk. A further measure of success was that 95% of Young Carers that wanted to, had been offered access to peer support and a break from their caring role.

The Committee considered performance data from the three-quarter reports to date. They were pleased to note that further work would be developed to enable a greater clarity in this reporting, with more depth behind the figures given and some reported figures sub-divided to give a more accurate reflection of the caring activity undertaken.

Members discussed concerns around the amount of caring activity young carers may be undertaking and asked what an acceptable level would be. Clear guidelines were set out for this, and part of the initial triage and assessment process would consider the level of care given and refer to n-compass and/or adult care services for support as appropriate. The triage service would also take account of the type of care given and the number of hours undertaken.

The Committee raised the issue of respite care to enable young carers to have a break from their caring responsibilities. Whilst n-compass provided short breaks once a year, there wasn’t currently a more frequent overnight respite type facility. The Cabinet Member informed the Committee that this was something he would take back,  giving consideration to the possibility of more frequent short respite offers.

Members wanted to reassure themselves that in supporting young carers the County Council was not simply enabling them to continue in inappropriate roles. There was a particular concern around the performance measure of the number of young carers who cared for between 11-30 hours per week, feeling a caring role for 30 hours per week could be seen as child exploitation. There was a need to understand the figures better, looking at the individual situations and the type of care given. It was also important to understand whether this was care for individuals with an assessed need or needs that didn’t qualify for statutory services. Where an individual met the need for statutory services a referral to adult social care would be made.

Members were informed that work was undertaken to hear the voice of the young carer and that skilled and well-trained officers undertook the initial triage process to help establish the level and types of care given and any impact on the young carers wellbeing. Members asked for the opportunity to meet young carers to reassure themselves first hand of the support and service provided. This may be something The Voice Project could facilitate.

RESOLVED: That:

a)   the implementation of the new Together for Carers Service be welcomed;

b)   developments in the type of data recorded to enable a clearer picture of types and hours of caring undertaken to supported; and

c)   an opportunity for the Committee to meet with young carers to hear their experience of the service first hand be explored.