Agenda and minutes

We elected County Councillor P. Farley as Chair.

We elected County Councillor R. Harris as Vice-Chair.

We received apologies from Councillors R. Edwards, M. Hickman and P. Jordan.

County Councillor A. Wintle declared a non-prejudicial interest as the Director of Carers Trust South East Wales.

Context:

We received a report from the Joint Planning and Commissioning Assistant and Head of Adult Services to seek the Committee’s approval of the Monmouthshire Carers Strategy 2016-2019.

Key Issues:

What is the Monmouthshire Carers Strategy?

This Strategy aims to provide and improve preventative and support services offered to carers in Monmouthshire to allow them to continue in their role as a carer; to discontinue that role if that is in their best interests; and to be supported when their role as a carer comes to an end. This will be achieved by improving and providing the services that support carers in line with their needs.

Outcomes for Carers

The Strategy focuses on achieving improved outcomes for carers, no matter which service they will receive, it also embraces the full range of support available, from the provision of information to intensive respite care.

Outcomes for Service Provision

The strategy will be used as a monitoring tool for current and future service provision. The strategy has clearly defined 8 themes, identified and agreed by carers, which offer carer focussed outcomes. This document will be used in partnership with carers, service providers (both statutory and third sector) and commissioners as a basis for Service Level Agreements, commissioning services, future ways of providing information and support for carers, and as an evaluation and service design tool. The Carers Strategy Group will use the Carers Strategy document as a self- evaluation tool.

Contributions from Witnesses attending:

After hearing from the Commissioning Support Officer who explained that this is the third strategy in Monmouthshire for carers which has been produced in collaboration & consultation with carers throughout Monmouth, partner organisations and health and social care professionals.

We heard from the Chief Executive Officer for the Carers Trust S.E. Wales told the committee that from a third sector perspective it has been good to be involved in the strategy from the start.

A Member of the Carers Strategy Group commented that he thought it was very comprehensive and detailed strategy which covered all main areas for carers. He said that as a carer, you did not serve an apprenticeship, nor go to university - you learn on the job. And that as a carer he looked for professional input from the likes of Monmouthshire Council to help him through his day. He said that everyone in the Chamber was a carer as the Council care for him, as a carer, and without the Council’s professional support he would not be able to do his job and thanked Monmouthshire County Council.  The Chair thanked him for his gracious words.

We heard from another carer who was expecting more of a work plan and expected to see questions such as, when are we going to it by, who are we going to do it with and where are we going to do it? She felt it needed accountability and a timescale.

She also questioned point 5 of the strategy Work with service providers to redesign respite care and support  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.