Agenda and minutes

To receive any declarations of interest.

There were no declarations of interest received at this point in the meeting.

The minutes of the Adult Social Care and Services Scrutiny Panel held on 9 December 2020 and 13 January 2021 were submitted and approved as a correct record.

 

The Executive Director of Social Care and Health Integration will provide a verbal update to the panel.

The Chair welcomed the Director of Adult Social Care and Health Integration to the meeting to provide a verbal update on Integration of Health and Social Care.

 

The Director advised that since the last meeting there had been no significant organisational changes as in large these organisations have been focused on the Covid response and in particular the preparation around the vaccination programme.

 

The Director was pleased to report that Middlesbrough was on track on vaccinating the four first priory groups set out by Central Government. He applauded the work undertook by the Contracts and Commissioning Team in supporting James Cook University Hospital (JCUH) by providing the lists of individuals who fit into the priority groups and the North East is at the forefront of vaccinations and the roll out has gone well.

 

The JCUH discharge team have been extremely busy, we saw for designated sites (care homes for those covid positive), initially these were quiet, however there has been an uptake on these. These beds are being occupied with those who are still covid positive who require the isolation period.

 

In terms of day care, the Director advised that during this lock down, with restrictions in place, they have continued to operate these. In the initial lockdown, all day care settings ceased to operate, however the Panel learnt that since, staff have become confident in undertaking the relevant safe guarding and risk assessments. We also considered the impact closing the centres would have on service users and carers, and concluded these could operate in a covid safe way.

 

In terms of social care, staff are managing the day to day business, as well as the demand and pressures put on the service due to the pandemic. The Director advised that staff are tired and resilience levels are being effected, and we are therefore ensuring we look at the wellbeing of our staff and the longer term effects.

 

A Panel member queried whether there had been any developments since the last meeting in terms of providing vaccines to house bound patients. In response, the Director advised that this was a matter for the Primary Care Networks and they will be considering the priority groups and patients who fit into this category.

 

AGREED:

 

That the information be noted.

 

The Executive Director of Social Care and Health Integration and the Principal Social Worker & Service Lead (Adults will be in attendance to provide an overview to the panel on support for carers.

The Chair welcomed Lynn Beevers, Principle Social Worker for Adults to the meeting to provide some context in relation to the support the Council provide to Carers'.

 

In terms of background, the Principle officer advised that in terms of the impact of caring:

 

•        The 2011 UK census showed that there were approximately 6.5 million people of all ages providing unpaid care. A 2019 poll published by Carers UK indicates that this number could now be closer to 8.8 million.

•        The number of people aged 65yrs or over has also grown from 1.4million in 2011 to potentially over 2 million in 2019.

•        The 2011 census information showed that there were 166,000 young carers between the ages of 5-17 providing support to a parent or sibling with illnesses or disabilities in the UK. The Children’s Society estimate that this figure is closer to 800,000, largely due to the number of young carers who remain unidentified.

•        Office of National Statistics (ONS) data shows that there are approximately 2,500 young or young adult carers across South Tees between the ages of 0-24.

 

The Panel were made aware that in 2019, 8000 formal and current carers shared their experiences and help shape the 'Shape of the Caring' report in 2019. Of those who responded:

 

 

·        39% responding to a national survey said they are ‘struggling to make ends meet’.

 

·        68% reported regularly using their own income or savings to pay for care or support services, equipment or products for the person they care for.

 

·        12% of carers reported that they or those they support received less care or support services during the previous year due to a reduction in the amount of support from social services.

 

·        53% of carers said that they are not able to save for their retirement.

 

·        64% say that they have focussed on the care needs of the person they care for, and not on their own needs.

 

The Principle Officer further went on to discuss the impact of Covid 19 on Carers and to point out some of the key national findings.

 

From the findings, they indicated that:

 

·        There has been an ongoing concern from carers that they would pass on virus onto loved ones, as many are shielding of choosing to shield.

 

·        Every day of the pandemic, carers have been providing care worth £530 million.

 

•        81% of carers have taken on more care.

 

•        64% have not had a break during the pandemic.

 

•        64% of carers say their mental health has been impacted by Covid.

 

•        Local authorities are seeing increasing numbers of carers asking for help because of breakdown.

 

 

The Principle officer explained that the Council have statutory responsibilities as set out by the Care Act 2014. The Care Act put in-place significant rights for Carers in England including:

 

·        A focus on promoting Carers’ wellbeing.

 

·        A duty on local councils to prevent, reduce and delay the need for support, including the needs of Carers.

 

·        A right to a Carers’ Assessment based  ...  view the full minutes text for item 20/41

The Chair will provide a verbal update from the Overview and Scrutiny Board held on 14 and 27 January 2021.

The Chair provided a verbal update from information received at the last Overview and Scrutiny Board meeting.

No items.