Agenda item

The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, Health and Community which outlined the draft Joint Carers Commissioning Strategy 2009/12.

 

The Board was advised that the Strategy built upon the aims, objectives and activities outlined in the 2008/9 Carers Strategy, but had been written as a practical document, including an action plan, to support services in Halton to move toward a more focused way of commissioning services for Carers over the next three years. 

 

It was reported that it had been developed as a result of research carried out in terms of other Local Authority plans and ongoing consultations and contributions from all stakeholders, including: -

 

·        Local Implementation Team (LIT) Carer Sub Groups;

·        Carers (via a consultation event held on 12.2.09);

·        Halton & St Helens NHS Trust;

·        Halton Carers Centre;

·        Voluntary Sector organisations; and

·        Staff and managers from the Health & Community and Children & Young People’s Directorate.

 

The Board was further advised that the format of the commissioning strategy followed a similar one adopted with other Joint Commissioning Strategies within the Directorate and also took account of the contents of the National Carers Strategy published in June 2008, by focusing commissioning intentions on: -

 

·        Integrated and Personalised Services;

·        A Life of Their Own;

·        Income & Employment;

·        Health & Wellbeing; and

·        Young Carers.

 

In addition, it was reported that the main objectives of the Commissioning Strategy was not only to move towards a process for the commissioning of services but to continue to assist in the identification of hidden carers and improve information and access to support services. A balance would need to be achieved between the commissioning and the work that continued to take place in supporting voluntary sector organisations e.g. Parkinson’s Society, Connect etc to develop their services.

 

It was noted that as part of the National Carers Strategy, the Department of Health (DoH) had allocated £150m to PCT’s to support carers breaks in 2009/10 and 2010/2011.  Halton and St Helens PCT had ensured that these funds would be utilised to support carers and had ring fenced funds during 2001/10 and 2010/11.  Discussions were taking place with the PCT as to how the funds would be best utilised.

 

The Board was further advised that the LIT Carer Sub Groups and the multi agency Carers Strategy Group would undertake monitoring of the implementation of the Commissioning Strategy and associated action plan.

 

The following points arose from the discussion:_

 

·        Page 71 – 3.7 - Continue to target ‘Hidden Carers – point c) – to develop presentation to be delivered in schools and colleges – clarity was sought on how schools would be involved;

 

In response it was reported that the Carer Development Officer in the Children & Young People’s Directorate developed linkages with schools and colleges, However, it was reported that it was not clear presently what impact this would have and further work may need to be undertaken to identify young carers.

 

·        Clarity was sought on whether there were any plans to establish a carers centre in Widnes with the allocated grant.  It was also suggested that carers would benefit from a drop in facility as it would enable them to have some periods of respite;

 

In response it was reported that there were no plans to establish a carers centre in Widnes presently.  However, the Halton Carer Centre aimed to look at a base to be provided in Widnes in the future.

 

In reply, Members of the Board suggested that officers contact the Halton Carer Centre and ask that the feasibility of establishing a Carer Centre in Widnes be progressed as soon as possible.

 

RESOLVED: That

 

(1)         the report and comments made be noted; and

 

(2)    Officers contact the Halton Carer Centre with a view to progressing the establishment of a Carer Centre in Widnes.