Decision details

Task Group Recommendation

Executive Comments

a) That health commissioners and providers ensure that there is greater consistency around how carers are identified and once identified their needs addressed. This would need to include:

• Training in carer awareness for all health professionals and allied staff
• That the hospital looks at extending the innovative approaches they have been piloting and embedding these into standard practices for all admissions and discharges
• That a written report be provided to the Health Overview & Scrutiny Committee on a six monthly basis in relation to quality indicators that are being monitored in respect of carers.

Agree subject to assessment of training budgets, and accepting that the council can advise the Hospital Trust but that they are the body charged with responsibilities for activities in the hospital.

b) That the Multi-Agency Carer’s Strategy Group identifies where it would be helpful to provide public information about what it means to be a

carer and how to access support to enable carers to identify themselves earlier.

• Where places are identified carer awareness training should be made available for key workers.

Agree

c) That City of York Council reviews its

Equalities Framework to ensure that carers become an integral part of all equality andinclusion work and this to include:

• Inviting a carer representative to become a member of the Equalities Advisory Group

Agree that CYC review its Equalities Framework, and takes to the next meeting of the Equalities Advisory Group the proposal that a carer representative be invited to join.

d) That health commissioners ensure that all care pathways provide guidance on the information and advice carers will need regarding specific medical conditions as well as sign-posting them to support and advice. This will need to address what the impact might be on:

• The carer
• The family as a whole
• The cared for person

Agree

e) That Adult Social Services develop a clear pathway, which provides an integrated approach to assessment for the whole family whilst recognising the individual needs within the family and the impact of caring on the carer

Agree

f) To continue to promote carer awareness an annual update on the Carers Strategy for York be presented to the Health Overview & Scrutiny Committee and thereafter to the Executive Member for Health & Adult Social Services.

Agree that the Executive Member for Health and Adult Social Services should receive an annual report updating the Carers Strategy, and that the same report should be submitted to the Health and Overview and Scrutiny Committee.