Agenda and minutes

http://www.swansea.gov.uk/DisclosuresofInterests

In accordance with the Code of Conduct adopted by the City and County of Swansea, no interests were declared.

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the previous Prevention and Social Care Cabinet Advisory Committee meeting.

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting held on 20 June 2016 be agreed as a correct record.

Councillor E T Kirchner provided the Committee with details of her work undertaken with carers.  She stated that she held a monthly surgery where she met with carers, was aware of the problems they encountered and how carers provided fresh ideas to problems.  She added that Councillor P B Smith, Councillor Champion for Carers should also be involved in future discussions.

Councillor Kirchner had met with Eleanor Norton, Executive Director of Swansea Carers Centre in order to highlight the problems faced by carers in their daily lives.  The Executive Director would provide a presentation at the next scheduled meeting and would also invite carers to attend in order to provide evidence to the Committee.

A number of issues were highlighted in discussions including: -

·         The constant fight carers encountered in order to obtain services and the wearing effect it had upon individuals;

·         Carers being constantly informed that they could only access services if they were ‘in crisis’, people who needed help being turned away and carers constantly coming up against a ‘brick wall’;

·         Blockages within the system, especially within the Authority and the need for staff training to prevent such blockages;

·         The need to recognise that carers are saving the Authority a substantial amount of money;

·         The problems encountered by parent carers in getting children into education establishments and keeping them there;

·         The problems finding employment encountered by parent carers and the need to work in partnership with outside agencies, e.g. Job Centre to address these issues and to provide support;

·         The lack of respite care available for carers and patients;

·         The unfairness in certain circumstances of the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) in dealing with carers cases;

·         Care allowance only being provided for one patient, regardless of the number of people the carer looks after and people who are employed being penalised financially;

·         Lack of recognition, support and respect for carers;

·         The lack of understanding given to young carers and how their situation unfairly excludes them from opportunities in life;

·         Implications of the Learning Needs Bill;

·         Legislative requirements of statutory carers assessments;

·         Welsh Government proposals in respect of carers;

·         Situations faced by vulnerable people with learning disabilities living with elderly parents in Council / Housing Association accommodation when the parents pass away or go into care.

RESOLVED that: -

1)    The contents of the discussions be noted;

2)    Eleanor Norton, Executive Director, Swansea Carers and carers be invited to the next scheduled meeting in order to provide a presentation regarding legislative impact of legislation on carers;

3)    The Chair to discuss young carers with the Chair of the Education CAC;

4)    Councillors E T Kirchner and P B Smith be invited to attend the next scheduled meeting;

5)    The Chair writes to Housing / Housing Associations regarding situations faced by vulnerable people with learning disabilities living with elderly parents in Council / Housing Association accommodation when the parents pass away or go into care.

The Chair referred to the Charging Policy of the Authority provided at Appendix 1 of the report and sought comments from the Committee.  The following were discussed: -

·         The future of Day Centres and the option of charging people (which many would prefer) rather than centres closing;

·         Impact of the living wage upon the list of charges;

·         Privately owned care homes increasing charges;

·         The problems faced by charging individuals with physical disabilities or learning disabilities compared to retired people who had worked and received a retirement pension.

RESOLVED that the contents of the report be noted.  

The Chair stated that she had made contact with Monmouthshire Council and would arrange a visit and invite the Cabinet Member for Services to Adults and Vulnerable people to attend.

The Chair presented an updated Work Programme 2016/17.

RESOLVED that: -

1)    The contents of the report be noted;

2)    Presentation from Swansea Carers representative and carers be provided to the next scheduled meeting;

3)    The Chair finalise arrangements for the visit to Monmouthshire Council;

4)    Disabled Facilities Grants be discussed at the meeting scheduled for Monday, 19 September 2016;

5)    Sheltered Accommodation be discussed at the meeting scheduled for Monday, 19 September 2016;

6)    A joint meeting with the Development CAC be organised in order to discuss CCTV.