Agenda item

To consider information from the SBC Adults, Health & Wellbeing directorate.

The first evidence-gathering session for the Committee’s review of Stockton-on-Tees Adult Carers Support Service considered initial information from the Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council (SBC) Adults, Health and Wellbeing directorate.  Presented by relevant SBC Service Managers, information included:

·       The Local Landscape

·       Identifying Carers

·       Current Staffing Structure

·       Referrals (2018-2024)

·       Cumulative Number of Carers Open to the Service (2018-2024)

·       Budget

·       Services Provided

·       Statutory Assessment and Personal Budgets

·       Carers Emergency Card

·       Time Out Support Service

·       Mobilise

·       Promotion and Engaging with the Community

·       Issues faced by carers

·       What do carers tell us they want?

·       Working Carers

·       Staff Carers Network

·       How do we involve carers?

·       What do carers tell us?

The Committee heard that there were approximately 20,000 unpaid carers across Stockton-on-Tees out of a population of around 200,000.  Whilst not everyone would identify as a carer, any person might find themselves in a position of having to support a family member, friend, neighbour, colleague or, as part of their employment, a service-user.  It was therefore important for everyone to be mindful of this eventuality, have conversations around this topic, and help identify those people in need of support.

The existing local Adult Carers Support Service was brought in-house by SBC in 2018, had close links with adult social care and other support services, and provided employment and training opportunities for the Borough’s carers.  Referrals to the service totalled around 450 in 2018, dipped to below 300 during 2020 (COVID-impacted), but then continually escalated to nearly 700 in 2024.  The cumulative number of carers open to the service, meanwhile, had continually increased from almost 500 in 2018 to 3,500 in 2024 (those accessing it remained open to the service and could come back at any time).

In terms of finance, the service budget increased from £319,109 in 2022-2023 to £394,207 in 2023-2024 following the introduction of the ‘Shared Lives’ element – this rose to £396,522 for 2024-2025.  An associated Carers Personal Budget fund had increased from £479,716 in 2022-2023 to £495,490 in 2024-2025.

A wide range of support was provided by the service including statutory carers assessments, person-centred support planning, one-to-one support, carers education sessions, welfare calls, a hospital-based carers advisor, and support for external organisations to increase their support for adult carers.  Other communication and engagement mechanisms existed via online services, newsletter and email bulletins, social media presence, drop-in sessions, weekly / monthly peer support groups, and the Carers Connect service.

Further detail was given on several of the service’s key aspects, including statutory assessment (carers had a legal right to an assessment of need, support to meet that need, and access to information and advice) and personal budgets (it was noted that the previous use of pre-payment cards had created issues – SBC was now looking at direct payments into individual accounts).  The Carers Emergency Card (helping to prepare / plan for emergencies) was also highlighted, as was the Time Out offer, which gave carers up to eight hours of ad-hoc support per month free-of-charge, allowing them a break from their caring role.

Attention was drawn to the Council’s work with Mobilise, the UKs digital platform for unpaid carers.  This partnership was in to its second year and helped to provide a range of free online services, as well as identify hidden carers.  Thus far, carers had engaged over 2,000 times through Mobilise’s actions or tools (such as its e-support subscription), been supported over 1,000 times with deeper actions like its Personalised Guide to Caring, and been enabled to apply for over £363,550 in eligible carers allowance support.  Developments in relation to a mapping exercise of carers across the Borough (potential aiding targeted support) were ongoing.

A host of well-known issues were associated with unpaid caring, ranging from financial hardship and social isolation to poor physical and / or mental health, and stress, worry and feelings of anger, guilt and frustration.  Difficulties in accessing primary care / other universal services and challenges in getting information / support were further experiences.  As such, local carers had identified several elements which they would find helpful, including access to mental health support and counselling, health and wellbeing support, information and signposting, regular ‘check-ins’, practical assistance, and visible communications and support from senior leaders.  Being able to work flexibly in order to facilitate their caring role was also highlighted, as was raising awareness with managers on carer tools / guidance, the creation of a Virtual Carers Network, and focusing on outcomes rather than presence.

Continuing the theme of working carers, it was noted that, nationally, one in five employees was a carer, 90% of whom were over the age of 30.  One in six people would leave their employment due to the pressure of the caring role, resulting in a knock-on annual cost to the UK economy of £5.3 billion.  In light of this, SBC had a Staff Carers Network which met online bi-monthly, provided peer support, advice and signposting, and played a role in steering the plans / objectives of the local Adult Carers Support Service.

The presentation concluded with an overview of how the Council involved carers themselves in shaping future service delivery, emphasising the importance of a warm and open culture which encouraged engagement and listening.  Several subsequent quotes demonstrated very positive carer views on the existing offer.

Thanking SBC officers for the uplifting submission which outlined the support available to those undertaking a very difficult role, the Committee emphasised the importance of enabling carers to have some occasional time to themselves, including the facilitation of access to community groups (where desired).  Members felt it would be useful for the Council to seek the views of carers on the benefits of providing this relief from their caring duties.

Regarding the help given to external organisations to increase their support for adult carers, the Committee was informed that this was happening across all locations within the Borough, and that raising awareness of carers and the caring role was a key part of the local service.

Returning to the theme of respite, Members praised the ad-hoc nature of the Time Out support and asked about take-up.  It was confirmed that around 120 people accessed this offer, though there were only nine support workers (providing up to 75 hours per week) to facilitate demand.  Positive feedback had been received from those using this element of the overall service, with the Council having success in employing current and ex-carers to deliver it in the home and community (it was noted that this was not domiciliary support, though).

Acknowledging the financial challenges that carers often endured, the Committee queried whether the Adult Carers Support Service liaised with the Council’s A Fairer Stockton-on-Tees department.  SBC officers stated that there was an established link between these two entities (including The Bread and Butter Thing initiative), and that the former also worked with the in-house Welfare Rights Team to ensure carers were aware of the support available to them.  A number of carers were reluctant to admit to financial hardship – the established newsletter was therefore a useful resource to promote assistance for carers without the need for them to physically approach the service.

AGREED that information provided by the SBC Adults, Health and Wellbeing directorate for the Committee’s Scrutiny Review of Stockton-on-Tees Adult Carers Support Service be noted.