Agenda item

A report resulting from the review of the support for carers undertaken by a working group of the Social Care and Learning Overview and Scrutiny Panel is attached for approval. The report will be considered by the Panel on 10 September 2008.

A report resulting from the review of the support for carers undertaken by a working group of the Social Care and Learning Overview and Scrutiny Panel was considered by the Commission. The report had been considered and approved by the Social Care and Learning Overview and Scrutiny Panel at their meeting on 10 September.

Mrs Shillcock, lead member of the working group, reported that members had found this investigation to be most interesting. The working group had considered the support that was provided as a whole in the Borough for carers. The working group looked at two types of support:

·         Support to the cared for – this included advice, equipment, access to respite care. It was found that provision by the Council and the voluntary services in this service area, was good. CSCI had affirmed that provision was good.

·         Support given to carers themselves – this provision was wide ranging and included support in the home, respite care, overnight respite and emergency care. There was also some financial support for longer breaks.

The working group had found that carers were able to access information in a huge variety of ways. Despite this it was found that many carers still did not know how to access services and information.

The 2001 Census had identified 8,200 carers in the Borough, yet only 200 were on the mailing list of Voluntary Action Bracknell and 500 were receiving support from the Council.

It was difficult to gauge what the needs of the majority of carers was, most were satisfied with the care that was being given to those they cared for.

It was reported that the Carers Strategy Group were working to develop a Strategy, which was currently in draft and would include a Business and Action Plan.

The Chairman and Members of the Commission thanked the Working Group for an excellent and informative piece of work and report. It was noted that the Chief officer: Adult Social Care had also welcomed the report as it highlighted the role and work of the PCT in engaging GPs in this work.

Members felt that this work should be publicised more widely and it was agreed that publicity be generated via Community TV and that this be added to paragraph 5.2 of the report. It was also agreed that a press release be drafted to highlight the working group’s report.

It was noted by members that the Government allowance for carers for the Borough was much lower than the number of carers identified by the Census. It was reported that this was because of the Department of Health’s formula that looked at deprivation.

It was agreed that the Head of Performance and Scrutiny would investigate the basis for the difference in funding between East Berkshire local authorities as outlined on page 52 of the agenda papers.

It was agreed that the Chairman would formally send the report to the Executive Member for his response. The Executive response would then be presented at the Commission meeting on 20 November 2008.

The Vice-Chairman took the Chair for the consideration of the following item.