Agenda and minutes

There were no declarations of interest reported at the meeting.

Submitted – The Minutes (previously circulated) of the meetings of this Scrutiny Committee held on 17 December 2019 and 14 January 2020.

RESOLVED - That the Minutes of the meetings of this Scrutiny Committee held on 17 December 2019 and 14 January 2020 be approved as correct records.

Report of Director of Children and Adult Services

The Director of Children and Adults Services submitted a report (previously circulated) which enabled Members to give consideration to the work of the Dementia Task and Finish Review Group and receive an update on the progress made in terms of the recommendations, and to determine whether the recommendations remained relevant and viable.

The submitted report stated that the Adults and Housing Scrutiny Committee established a Review Group in November 2015 to look at the dementia pathway and support and advice services in Darlington. It was reported that the Review Group met on several occasions between November 2015 and June 2016, and that a number of recommendations were made, and endorsed by the Adults and Housing Scrutiny Committee. It was highlighted that these recommendations were subsequently approved by Cabinet at its meeting on 17 January 2017, and by Council at its meeting on 26 January 2017. A copy of the final report of the Dementia Task and Finish Review Group was appended to the submitted report, alongside an outline of the actions undertaken to date, the Dementia Strategy for County Durham and Darlington 2014-2017, and the Dementia Governance Structure.

Discussion ensued on recent studies linking dementia to air pollution; the issues in terms of obtaining any input from medical professionals during the work of the original Review Group; the work undertaken with surgeries by the Alzheimer’s Society; and the dementia awareness training undertaken by Members.

Members entered into discussion on how Members could understand how well services were working from the perspective of an individual living with dementia and were informed that quarterly reports were received. Members also heard of the work being undertaken in the Haughton Ward to ensure shops, pubs, and other services were accessible to those living with dementia.

Members acknowledged that an enormous amount of work had previously been undertaken, however expressed concern that much was now out of date, and that there were many gaps in the progress made. Members were keen to see further work undertaken in relation to care for those living with dementia in care homes, domiciliary care, the Dementia Action Alliance, and the Good Friends Scheme.

RESOLVED – That Members give further consideration to any areas of work that they wish to bring forward, and that topics be proposed in the appropriate manner.

Report of Director of Children and Adult Services

The Director of Children and Adults Services submitted a report (previously circulated) which provided information about support to carers in Darlington, and which gave an update on Darlington’s Carer’s Action Plan 2018-20.

The submitted report advised Members that the 2011 census identified 11,048 carers in Darlington and stated that 2758 (25%) of whom provided over 50 hours of care per week. The submitted report provided a breakdown of the numbers of carers per age group and highlighted that 197 carers in Darlington were aged between 0-15, with the largest group of carers (37%) being aged 50-64.

Members were advised that the Darlington Carers’ Strategy Steering Group (CSSG) had developed a Darlington Carers’ Action Plan in response to the national Carers Action Plan, which was published in June 2018. The Darlington Carers’ Action Plan was appended to the submitted report.

Members expressed concern that the figures provided identifying the numbers of carers were based on data that was nearly ten years old, however Members were informed that carers were also identified through other means, such as through schools and those registered with Adult Carers Support, and it was acknowledged that there might be a difference between the actual number of carers and the figures provided via the census data. Members were informed that many individuals may not identify themselves as carers, and discussion ensued on the definition of ‘a carer’.

Members entered into discussion on the roles of ‘primary carers’ and ‘secondary carers’, the support available to young carers, and the support available to carers where there may be cross boundary issues. The work currently being undertaken in the Haughton Ward to support carers was highlighted, and the potential to roll this out more widely was discussed, with reference made to potential future work with the Health and Housing Scrutiny Committee and the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee, and further information being published in Members’ newsletters and the ‘One Darlington’ magazine. Members were pleased to learn of the Carers Support Service being rolled out by surgeries.

RESOLVED – (a) That the contents of the report be noted.

(b) That Members give further consideration to any areas of work that they wish to bring forward, and that topics be proposed in the appropriate manner.

Report of Managing Director

The Managing Director submitted a report requesting that Members gave consideration to the Work Programme items scheduled to be considered by this Scrutiny Committee during 2019/20, and to any additional areas that Members would like to be included.

Members were reminded that the appropriate manner for adding items to the agreed Work Programme was the completion of a Quad of Aims.

RESOLVED – That the current status of the Work Programme be noted.