Minutes for Carers Scrutiny Commission meeting, Jan 6 2009, 7.00PM official page

Councillor Denise Stafford

This is the time for Members to declare any interest they may have in any matter being considered at this meeting. The Code of Conduct is set out in Part 5.1 of the Council’s Constitution and advice is attached. (Enclosure).

Councillor Clive Furness declared an interest for item 4 as he is a trustee of Real Life Parenting.

Janet Evans declared an interest for item 4 as she sits on the Board of Newham Carers Network.

Members to approve minutes for the meeting held on 2^nd December 2008. (Enclosure).

The minutes of the meeting held on 2^nd December 2008 were agreed as a correct record.

The following voluntary and community sector organisations will be in attendance to discuss how they support carers in Newham, what they consider to be some of the gaps in meeting carers’ needs and where further improvements can be made in how we work in partnership:

• Newham Carers Network – Shirley Barber, Director and Malcolm Hazleton, Young Carers Service Co-ordinator (Report enclosed)

• Building Bridges Project, Family Action – Julia Gay, Temporary Project Manager and Francoise Smith, Building Bridges, Newham Co-ordinator (Report enclosed)

• Newham Crossroads – Janet Evans, Manager (to follow)

• SPINN (Supporting Parents: Inclusion Network Newham) – Sue Smith, Manager (Report enclosed)

• Real Life Parenting – Alison Orphan, Development Manager (to follow)

At the last Commission’s meeting, Members heard from Council services and partners about their priorities, types of services/support they offer to carers, meeting needs and partnership working.

At this meeting, Members heard from voluntary and community sector organisations on how they support carers in Newham, what they consider to be some of the gaps in meeting carers’ needs, and where further improvements can be made in partnership working.

Newham Carers Network (NCN)

Shirley Barber, Director of Newham Carers Network, and Malcolm Hazleton, Young Carers Service Co-ordinator were in attendance to inform Members about how they support carers. Members heard that the NCN works generically with carers, in that they deal with all issues affecting carers. They also provide a service to young carers and their families, and develop and run support groups for the parents of young carers.

Members were informed about the types of services and support the NCN offered to carers, which include the following:

• Information, advice and support for carers (0-99 years of age) from all communities via a casework service, which is accredited by the Legal Services Commission
• A service for young carers, including their families
• Setting up and facilitating support groups, as well as provide advice and support to other carers’ support groups in the borough
• “Better health for Carers” service, which provides information and support to carers by examining ways they could improve their health
• An outreach service for older Asian carers to provide support, advice, advocacy, and to assist with access to culturally sensitive leisure opportunities
• Assisting the development of a Carers Forum in Newham
• A quarterly newsletter which updates carers on care-related issues and informs carers of new legislation, events, activities and training available locally to carers
• Encouraging planners and providers to be “carer aware” through representation on various groups and partnerships
• Feeding information into various organisations and bodies and serving as a first point of contact

Members were informed that from the outset, NCN’s priorities have been dictated by the views and needs of carers they work with, together with current national and local carers’ strategies. Furthermore, NCN has a variety of evaluation and monitoring tools to ensure they receive constructive feedback.

NCN identified the following as gaps in their service:

·  A 24 hour or out of hours advice line

·  Funding for more caseworkers for more complex cases

·  Funding for a designated specialist worker working with carers of children and young people with learning disabilities and autism

·  Resources for the newsletter as no funding is received in this regard

The Commission was informed that from carers’ perspective, the gaps are:

·  Lack of suitable respite provision

·  Inadequate support for carers in work or wishing to return to work or education

·  Named consistent Social Workers

·  Delays in processing Carers Assessments

In relation to partnership working, Members were informed that NCN has the following relationships with partners:

·  Works closely with the Carers Development Worker based at the Council/ PCT

·  Part of the Carers Strategy  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

Members to consider the Carers Scrutiny Commission’s work programme for 2008 – 2009 (To follow).

Members were informed that due to financial constraints, the Commission could not afford to fund best practice research by Carers UK. The Scrutiny Manager also informed members that due to time constraints there have been difficulties in accessing GPs and social workers to contribute to the Commission’s work before the final report and recommendations are agreed. It was agreed that Councillor Shakoor would contact a GP with the view to setting up a meeting with members.

Members to note dates of future meetings are as follows:

Tuesday 3^rd February 2009

Tuesday 3^rd March 2009

Tuesday 7^th April 2009

All meetings commence at 7pm at the East Ham Town Hall.

Noted.