Agenda item

DONCASTER CARING

Members were informed how the Doncaster All Age Carers’ Charter was to enable Team Doncaster to publicly show and reaffirm their commitment to carers.

Members were informed that in Doncaster there were 33,000 carers (of all ages) as reported in Doncaster’s Carers Strategy (census 2011), however, in reality only approximately 4,000 was known about at this present time.  This was because individuals did not always identify themselves as a carer and on that basis it was considered that it was easily double that figure.

Members were told how engagement of the proposal had taken place with voluntary community sector groups and carers. It was explained that carers who wanted to be involved in the process had wanted something simple producing and this had been taken on board.

Members were pleased to hear that engagement of the proposal had taken place with the voluntary and community sector and was currently being shared out in the public domain as well as through partners.  Members heard that the charter was being taken through the Doncaster Chamber to ensure that further engagement takes place with businesses as 1 in 9 workers were identified as carers.  It was also stated that carers needed to be further identified through the workforce so that they could access the available support. 

In terms of Veterans, it was stated that they were often the carers or being cared for and it was questioned how they could holistically be supported within the community.

Further to Doncaster Council signing up to the Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Charter, a Member stated that they would like to see other areas rolled out to ensure that a wider reach was undertaken.

A Member requested a breakdown of ward data of carers, it was explained that such information might not necessarily represent all carers.  It was added that as the Council started to build preventative services, there was now a point of contact for carers.  It was commented that the Charter would reinforce the commitment to carers across all ages, which would allow the Council to understand carers more.

Young Carers - A Member referred to the number of 700 young carers and enquired about pastoral care in schools and academies.  Assurances were sought that those young carers had access to services.

Members heard how the Young Carers Card might incorporate a traffic light system to reflect where the young person was emotionally on that particular day through a visual means without having to articulate it further.  It was explained that it was a new development which would go out to every school.

A Member asked whether the card could be used for people in the workplace. Members were advised that the card needed to be rolled out for young people successfully first before being considered for use in the workplace for employees who were carers.

During the meeting, a Member questioned how carers known to services were monitored, maintained or identified as no longer requiring support as a carer.  Members were informed that carers needed to be empowered to have a voice and be able to report what they felt was not working or what support they needed.

Enquiries were made about what pastoral care was available in schools and academies and assurances were sought that young carers had access to those services. Members were pleased to hear that the Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Schools, as part of her role, had endeavoured to visit all schools and raise awareness of the charter.  It was reported that the Cabinet Member had spoken passionately about support from Officers, and issued a mandate to challenge secondary schools.  It was therefore felt that Headteachers should sign up to the charter to further endorse this.

A Member raised concern that young carers with parents who did not speak English often became their translators when communicating with services.  Members were advised that those children were generally known to the authority or would be where they had identified themselves as a young carer. It was therefore felt that those young carers (who also acted as translators) needed to sit within the spectrum of the All Age Charter

It was felt that as a Councillor, their role could help ensuring that the carer was placed at the forefront whether through decision making or council services and be able to have a voice.

Members were provided with a Doncaster “Care to Chat Pack” developed to celebrate Carers Rights Day on 30th November 2018.  Members commented that the information provided in the report and discussion had been very concise and informative.

RESOLVED that the Panel;

I.        Note the report and put forward the following recommendations;

I.        That the Young Carers Card once successfully rolled out, be considered for use in the workplace for employees who are carers.

II.       That Headteachers sign up to the Doncaster Carers Charter. 

III.      To ensure that those young carers with parents who did not speak English (and therefore needed to act as translators) sits within the spectrum of the All Age Charter.