Agenda item

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.