ITEM 14 Supporting Unpaid Carers – Carers Support Allocation
North Lanarkshire Council · 21 August 2024
Back to IJB Performance, Finance and Audit Committee — 21 August 2024 and its agenda
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1 REPORT Item No: 14 SUBJECT: Supporting Unpaid Carers – Carers Support Allocation TO: Integration Joint Board Performance, Finance and Audit Committee Lead Officer for Report: Morag Dendy, Chief Officer of Planning, Performance and Quality Assurance Author(s) of Report Maria Williamson, Senior Manager, Quality Assurance DATE: 21 August 2024 1. PURPOSE OF REPORT Previous reporting to the IJB outlined our planned approach to strengthen supports to unpaid carers. The report identified a number of carers led and carers informed initiatives introduced over the past year, highlighting our wider approach to engagement with, and the participation of, carers and carer organisations. This report provides an update on the current financial position and the budget allocated to carers support. This paper is coming to the Integration Joint Board Performance, Finance and Audit Committee for: For approval ☒ For endorsement ☒ To note ☐ 2. ROUTE TO THE BOARD This paper has been: Prepared By: Maria Williamson, Senior Manager, Quality Assurance ☒ Reviewed By: Morag Dendy, Head of Planning, Performance and Quality Assurance ☒ Endorsed By: Ross McGuffie, Chief Officer ☒
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2 3. RECOMMENDATIONS It is recommended that the IJB PFA: (1) Endorse the approach to supporting Carers in North Lanarkshire (2) Note the current financial position and budget allocation in relation to carers support. 4. VARIATIONS TO DIRECTIONS? 5. BACKGROUND/SUMMARY OF KEY ISSUES Background 5.1 A previous report to the IJB in May 2024 provided details of support arrangements in place for unpaid Carers and progress with the implementation of the Carers Act. 5.2 In addition, the response to a Freedom of Information request (released March 2024) on the Analysis of Carers (Scotland) Act 2016 funding 2022-2023 was included and noted the unallocated spend in North Lanarkshire stood at £1,032,017. This figure was based on caring related spend reported to Committee in 2022. Since then, there has been further investment in the carer support aligned to approaches and developments outlined in our Carers Strategy 2024-2027. 5.3 The report also included details of the position with Ear Marked Reserves related to the implementation of the Carers Act Support Act. The financial position reported as of 28 February 24 was £2.596m. 5.4 An update on the current financial position was requested and is provided in this report. Report 5.5 North Lanarkshire continues to have strong and long-standing relationships with supported people, carers, and community organisations. This approach ensures that local people and stakeholders can influence, inform, and shape local policy, strategy, and services. 5.6 Our approach has helped carers, supported people and carer focused organisations influence and shape the range of carer services in North Yes ☐ No ☐ N/A ☒
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3 Lanarkshire, with a number of successful initiatives expanded including Carer Breather, PAMIS Family Support Service, Hospital Discharge Service and Hope for Autism. 5.7 The current commissioned Carer contracts are due to end in February 2025. In line with statutory procurement rules, we have begun the process of engaging with these organisations as we progress to retendering for carer services In North Lanarkshire. Through this process, our intention is to further enhance and align carer support, as set out in the Carers Strategy 2024-2027. 5.8 The Carer Support Budget Allocation for 2024-25 is as follows: Carer Support Allocation 2024-2025 Provision of Adult Carer Support Plans - commissioned service, which also includes adult carer support £ 968,976 Provision of Young Carer Statements - commissioned service, which also includes young carer support £ 461,375 Information and Advice – commissioned service, which also includes Carers Advocacy £ 315,825 Post Diagnostic Support for Carers £ 271,636 Duty to support adult carers – includes Carer Breather; Community Solutions; SDS including Carer Budgets £ 2,100,000 Duty to support young carers – includes PAMIS (provides support to families); SDS including Carer Budgets £ 186,000 Additional short breaks support £ 200,000 Local Carer strategies & Infrastructure £ 138,955 Other - Hospital Support £ 146,844 Waiving of Charges £ 241,192 Developments - Supporting Carers with POA £ 200,000 Unallocated Budget £ 32,506 TOTAL £ 5,263,309 5.9 The position as of Feb 24 on Ear Marked Reserves related to the implementation of the Carers Support Act has changed slightly with £188,000 utilised, leaving a balance of £2.408m. As this value is non-recurring, this will be used to support shorter term initiatives that improve outcomes for Carers.
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4 5.10 Through the process of engaging with carers, supported people and carer focused organisations we will seek to further augment carer led initiatives and solutions to meet caring related needs and outcomes. Utilising any unallocated funding and the available Ear Marked Reserves will further support the development of a preventative and anticipatory approach, where people can live independently as they wish and have support available within their own networks and communities. Measures of Success 5.11 Carers are engaged, included, and represented to the extent they wish to be. 5.12 Improved opportunities for carers to influence, shape, co-produce and \ or co- design policy, strategy, and services. 5.13 Clear focus on the nine priority areas for action that carers have identified as a priority for them, as set out in the Carer Strategy 2024-2027. Improving preventative approaches, anticipatory and future planning (and preventing crisis). Improving communication with carers and their access to information and advice. Ensuring carers know their rights. Supporting carers health and wellbeing Ensuring carers get a break from caring. Ensuring carers, and people being cared for, have their income maximised. Improving carer experience around hospital discharge. Improving awareness of and access to Assistive Technology. Influencing and shaping policy and strategy. 5.14 Reduction in the number of carers and \ or supported people first presenting whilst already in crisis. 6. CONCLUSIONS 6.1 We will work with carers, carer organisations and key stakeholders to develop initiatives that offer a sustainable and innovative means to achieve the outcomes that carers, as well as supported people, identify as being important to them. 6.2 Our aspiration is that through these initiatives, carers can lead full and meaningful lives.
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5 7. IMPLICATIONS 7.1 NATIONAL OUTCOMES Link(s) to National Health and Wellbeing Outcomes People are able to look after and improve their own health and wellbeing and live in good health for longer ☒ People, including those with disabilities or long-term conditions, or who are frail, are able to live, as far as reasonable practicable, independently and at home or in a homely setting in their community ☒ People who use Health and Social Care Services have positive experiences of those services, and have dignity respected ☒ Health and Social Care Services are centred on helping to maintain or improve the quality of life of people who use those services ☒ Health and Social Care Services contribute to reducing health inequalities ☒ People who use Health and Social Care Services are safe from harm ☒ People who work in Health and Social Care Services feel engaged with the work they do and are supported to continuously improve the information, support, care and treatment they provide ☒ Resources are used effectively and efficiently in the provision of Health and Social Care Services ☒ 7.2 ASSOCIATED MEASURE(S) 7.3 FINANCIAL This paper has been reviewed by Finance: Directed funding allocated for Carers support will be used to retender and deliver services that continue to support carers across our communities. Non-recurring Ear Marked reserves will be used to support shorter term initiatives that improve outcomes for carers. We will engage with carers, carer organisations and key stakeholders throughout. 7.4 RISK ASSESSMENT/RISK MANAGEMENT Relevant Risk Register Details Current Risk Level Risk Owner n/a Choose an item. Yes ☒ No ☐ N/A ☐
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6 7.5 ENGAGEMENT & PARTICPATION Please tick the engagement and participation objectives that link(s) with this piece of work and provide further details regarding the engagement and participation that was undertaken. Objectives Further Details ☒ Involve stakeholders in the development work aimed at achieving the national Outcomes Through commissioned carer support organisations locally. ☒ Provide stakeholders with information on how to get involved Through commissioned carer support organisations locally. ☒ Ensure a diverse range of engagement and participation and opportunities are in place to suit different needs Through commissioned carer support organisations locally. ☒ Measure how well we involve community stakeholders in the planning, design and delivery of our services Through commissioned carer support organisations locally. Through participatory self-appraisal. Through monitoring and assurance. ☒ Provide regular feedback on how stakeholder engagement and participation is shaping and influencing service development and delivery Through engagement and participation processes with commissioned carer support organisations locally, framework support provider organisations, governance groups. ☒ Provide support to enable stakeholder representatives to participate meaningfully and confidently at meetings Through commissioned carer support organisations locally. Through Advocacy Through individual support. Through carer development programmes, such as Recognition to Rights. ☒ Develop participation guidelines to ensure a common understanding and set of expectations for both stakeholders and partnership staff Through the Engagement and Participation Strategy, NLDF, and through co-production with stakeholders. ☒ Support engagement planning and participation in localities, taking account of other engagement activity and local plans across the Community Planning Partnership Through the Engagement and Participation Strategy, NLDF, and through co-production with stakeholders. 7.6 INEQUALITIES & FAIRER SCOTLAND DUTY EQIA Completed & Fairer Scotland Impact Assessment Form Completed and attached to report:
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7 EQIA added to website: 8. BACKGROUND PAPERS 8.1 IJB report - Supporting Unpaid Carers and North Lanarkshire Carers Strategy 2024 -2027 (May 24) 9. APPENDICES N/A Morag Dendy Chief Officer (Performance, Planning & Quality Assurance) CHIEF ACCOUNTABLE OFFICER (or Depute) Members seeking further information about any aspect of this report, please contact the following: Maria Williamson, Senior Manager, Quality Assurance WilliamsonM@northlan.gov.uk Yes ☐ No ☒ N/A ☐ Yes / Date added ☐ No ☒ N/A ☐
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8 Direction from North Lanarkshire Integration Joint Board (IJB) 1 Reference Number 2024/2108-13 2 Report Title Supporting Unpaid Carers 3 Date direction issued by IJB 4 Date from which direction takes effect 5 Direction to: 6 Does this direction supersede, revise or revoke a previous direction – if yes, include reference number(s) 7 Functions covered by direction 8 Full text of direction 9 Budget allocated by Integration Joint Board to carry out direction 10 Performance Management / Governance arrangements 11 Date direction will be reviewed