Agenda item

Katy Lewis, Carers Strategy Manager, RMBC, to present an update on progress against the Carers Strategic Framework

Katy Lewis, Carers Strategy Manager, presented an update on the achievements of the Carers Strategic Framework October, 2022-September, 2023, with the aid of the following powerpoint presentation:-

Improved Outcomes

¾     Community partnership approach

¾     Joint initiatives and a shared vision – no longer stand alone including commissioning

¾     Greater understanding of the “bigger picture”

¾     Shared investment and collaborative MDT working

¾     Consideration to improvements within the wider community

¾     ‘Living well for longer’ – Harm to Hope and Suicide Prevention

Achievements

¾  Permanent Carers Strategy Manager in post from July, 2023

¾  Achievements against the strategic framework

¾  Focus 1 Carers Cornerstones

¾  Focus 2 Creating Communities of Support

Carers Strategy Manager

¾  Initial focus on:-

·     Networking/identifying stakeholders

Joined the Yorkshire and Humber Carers Lead Group

Joined the South Yorkshire Integrated Care Partnership Commitment to Carers Group

·     Securing provision of the current Carers Emergency Service until end of March, 2024

·     Undertaking a programme of carers workshops during August/September – ‘Carers Conversations’ to be completed in October

·     Updating the Council website Carers Information pages – further work ongoing

Focus 1 – Carer Cornerstones

¾     Better Care Fund underspend of £100,000 allocated to the provision of small grants up to £5,000 each to small voluntary and community organisations for projects to improve the health and wellbeing of carers

·       19 grants awarded

·       Carers to be supported included those caring for people with dementia, mental ill health, parent carers and carers from minority communities

·       Projects funded included physical activity, art therapy, mindfulness and creative craft skills

·       Projects funded will run from August 2023 to the end of March, 2024

¾     Borough that Cares Strategic Group

·     Continued to meet regularly to share best practice and information

¾     Advice and Information

·     First carers newsletter published in Spring 2023

·     Electronic version available on the Council website Carers pages

·     Intelligence gathering on user experience of existing advice and information offering

·     Programme of events delivered for Carers Week across the Borough

Focus 2 – Creating Communities of Support

¾     Worked collaboratively with South Yorkshire Integrated Care Partnership – contributed to version 2 of the Practitioners Guide to Carers Support

¾     Worked with RMBC Digital Inclusion Strategy Group to reduce digital exclusion for carers – including carer webpages in RMBC’s customer portal design

¾     Carers Conversations Co-production Programme (August-October, 2023)

14 co-production events (as at September 2023) completed in partnership with locality-based support groups

Focus on the themes of accessing advice and information and support services and improved health and wellbeing

Outcomes would inform future commissioning decisions

Next Steps

¾     November 2023 – produce report on the outcomes and commissioning proposals following the engagement work being undertaken to include

Results of survey undertaken by Healthwatch – due October 2023

Outcomes of the Carers Conversations

Feedback gathered at Rotherham Show

Feedback from social care and health professionals

Proposals for the ongoing provision of a Carers Emergency Service

¾     Encourage unpaid carers in Rotherham to take part in the national Survey of Adult Carers in England 2023-24 administered by NHS England

¾     Agree terms of reference and commence the Borough That Cares Network Group

Discussion ensued with the following issues raised/clarified:-

·        Really pleasing work that had taken place engaging with carers and the Carers Strategy produced.  The next step was to produce an action plan from the Strategy

·        Recognition of the diversity of carers and getting their voice out

·        The parent carers group worked with children and young people

·        A visit to be made to the Young Carers Council in October

Katy was thanked for her presentation.

Resolved:-  That the presentation be noted and a further report be submitted to the January Board meeting on the outcomes from the co-production work to deliver on the Carers Strategic Framework.

ACTION:-  Leonie Wieser/Katy Lewis