Agenda item

To receive a presentation on Carers Services in Flintshire.   

(a)       That the presentation be received; and

(b)       That the Committee send a letter expressing their objection to charging for information, care advice and services.          

The Chair introduced Claire Sullivan (Chief Officer at North East Wales Carers Information Service (NEWCIS)), Janet Fletcher (from Hafal) and Evelyn Oldale who was a Carer. 

Ms. Sullivan welcomed the opportunity to speak to the Committee to explain how Members could signpost carers to NEWCIS. 

Ms. Oldale provided a detailed presentation to the Committee, in form of a job advert, of the work undertaken by a carer.  She explained that the hours were long, that no formal qualifications were required and that the successful applicant might need to carry out the tasks of two people such as when lifting of the patient was required and that the environment was stressful.  The pay was poor and that there was no occupational pension available and that days off were limited and there was no prospect of promotion and once the carer reached the age of 65, any allowances that they received were stopped. 

Ms. Sullivan then provided a detailed presentation on NEWCIS explaining that they provided information and support to carers and that they signposted carers to the most appropriate service if required.  NEWCIS was the point of contact for all carers and she provided information on carers which included:-

• There had been a seven percent increase in the numbers of adult carers in Flintshire since the last census in 2001 
• Young carers from the ages of 12 to 17 totalled 4,745 in 2012
• NEWCIS had 25% of adult carers registered in Flintshire (which was one of the highest figures in Wales)
• In the first six months of this financial year, NEWCIS had received 543 referrals from GPs, Social Services, Community Hospitals, voluntary sector and self referrals from carers.  380 of these had received a home visit and assessment of their needs and were signposted to other services

She explained that there was a Flintshire Carers Strategy Group and she detailed those on the group and added that the group linked Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) via NEWCIS who attended and contributed to regional work currently being developed.  The action plan for NEWCIS was updated on a regular basis and the NEWCIS website was linked to the Flintshire County Council website.  All registered carers were sent a quarterly newsletter to inform carers of all training, groups, events and local service information.  Newsletters were also sent to all GP’s practices, community hospitals, social services, libraries, community centres, local organisations, private businesses and local councillors to ensure that carers saw the information that was available.    

            Ms. Sullivan explained that NEWCIS:-

• undertook carers needs assessments
• provided carer specific training, one to one support and home visits
• arranged carer groups and drop in sessions
• Managed Bridging the Gap respite service
• Prepared a quarterly newsletter
• Provided a 48 hour break scheme at Llys Eleanor in partnership with Clwyd Alyn and Flintshire County Council

Ms. Fletcher then provided a detailed presentation on Hafal with the main features being as follows:-

• Hafal – What’s our mission?
• What do we do
• Hafal in Flintshire
• What services do we provide?
• Family Support
• Group activities
• Acute Family Support
• Get2gether
• Partnership meetings
• Respite fund
• Group respite
• Networking
• National Services

The Chair thanked Ms. Sullivan, Ms. Fletcher and Ms. Oldale for their presentations.  She said that she hoped that the funding continued as NEWCIS and Hafal provided a lifeline for many people in Flintshire. 

Councillor Stella Jones asked whether Ms. Fletcher felt that the small team at Hafal could provide the services that were needed to those carers living in areas such as Gronant due to the distance from the team’s base at Wrexham.  Ms. Fletcher said that she worked from the Deeside Community Mental Health Team office and attended Home Treatment Team clinical review meeting at least once a week at Wrexham.  In response to a question from Councillor Hilary Isherwood about whether Hafal worked with young carers, Ms. Fletcher said that Hafal worked with carers aged 18 or over and that she would refer any young carers to NEWCIS or Barnardos. 

Councillor Hilary McGuill asked for information on the ‘buddy’ scheme for those who went into Llys Eleanor as part of the 48 hour break project.  In response, Ms. Sullivan explained that when it was identified that a carer needed a break, the carer and their relative would visit Llys Eleanor along with a volunteer who would then visit them during the stay.  The buddy scheme was currently only available to those on the 48 hour break project but the staff at Llys Eleanor had asked that it be extended to the residents who lived there, which Ms. Sullivan was to consider.  Talks were ongoing with Llys Jasmine about extending the scheme to that facility and Ms. Sullivan said that she would like it to be a whole Wales scheme. 

Councillor Hilary Isherwood spoke of the respite projects and asked whether help was available for transport costs for those that lived in rural areas and did not have a regular bus service.  Ms. Fletcher said that each case would be looked at but that it was possible to sometimes refund petrol costs, train fares or taxi costs through certain companies if the carer did not have a car and was not able to use a bus.  Councillor Isherwood queried whether it was possible to send a leaflet on agencies such as NEWCIS and Hafal to all residents with their Council Tax bill as this would ensure the information was available to every household.  Councillor Stella Jones also suggested that information on all agencies including NEWCIS and Hafal should be made available to all Councillors as part of the information they received following an election.  In response to a question from Councillor McGuill, Ms. Sullivan said that a Carers Information Day was to be held on 29^th November 2013 and Ms. Oldale said that regular visits were made to hospitals and supermarkets to promote the work undertaken by carers and organisations such as NEWCIS and Hafal. 

Ms. Sullivan commented on the Social Care and Wellbeing Bill 2016 and said that it was the intended that the Care Strategy for Wales Bill be repealed but this was being challenged as the Bill suggested that there be a charge for information, care advice and services.  She asked Members to support that a charge not be put in place.  The Chair proposed that the Committee send a letter expressing their objection to charging for the service. 

RESOLVED:

(a)       That the presentation be received; and

(b)       That the Committee send a letter expressing their objection to charging for information, care advice and services.