Agenda and minutes

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

To approve & sign the Minutes of the previous meeting(s) as a correct record.

Resolved that the Minutes of the People Policy Development Committee held on 16 December 2020 be approved and signed as a correct record.

The Chair explained that the Committee held a very informative workshop earlier that day.  Egija Cinovska, the Young Carers Project Co-ordinator in Swansea YMCA had attended to explain the services provided to Young Carers in Swansea. In addition, she outlined the effect that Covid-19 had impacted on the Young Carers, with up to 30 additional hours a week of duties being encountered by Young Carers. The Committee Members who attended the workshop were all extremely impressed with the enthusiasm, knowledge and passion of the Young Carers Project Co-ordinator.

The Committee Members raised the following points:

·                     It would be useful to liaise with the Young Carers via an invitation to a future workshop or Committee meeting to understand their issues directly;

·                     Some work should already have been undertaken in relation to statistics via the Population Needs Analysis;

·                     Any work undertaken should continue after Covid-19;

·                     Ensure all our schools were aware of the service so they could signpost as necessary;

·                     Statistics show there were 3 Young Carers in every class in every school.  Concern expressed that some might not have been identified.  Need to ensure the correct mechanism/procedures were in place to capture this information;

·                     Some Young Carers don’t acknowledge themselves as a carer;

·                     Research good practice in other Local Authorities;

·                     Need to avoid “labelling” and be sensitive to their needs;

·                     Availability of “Young Carers Grant”;

·                     The Strategy needs to ensure the profile of assessing support for Young Carers was paramount and there was a comprehensive process for promoting the support that was available with as few barriers in the process as possible;

·                     All GP cluster areas should be involved;

·                     Public Services Board (PSB) Priority - To give every child the best start in life;

·                     Co-Option of Egija Cinovska to the Committee for this workplan item (should the YMCA be successful in the re-commissioning process);

·                     Any support should not be age limited;

·                     Education Policy Development Committee considering “Vulnerable Learners” as part of their work plan.  The Chairs of each Committee would discuss to ensure they dovetail but not duplicate work;

·                     A “Young Carers Board” was being considered;

·                     It would be useful to for the Members of the People Policy Development Committee to receive a copy of the draft Strategy.

The Chair and Gavin Evans, Principal Officer for Early Help, Partnership and Young People had briefly discussed the role of the Committee in assisting Young Carers and production of the Strategy.  The timeline for producing the Strategy being April, which coincided with the Committees work plan until March 2021.  The Chair would invite Gavin Evans and Egija Cinovska to the next meeting and some Young Carers to the next Workshop/Committee.

Resolved that:

1)            The update be noted;

2)            The draft Strategy be circulated to the Members of the People Policy Development Committee;

3)            The Chair invite Gavin Evans & Egija Cinovska to the next meeting and Young Carers to the next Workshop/Committee.

The Chair presented the Work Plan for 2020-2021.

Resolved that the Work Plan be noted.