8th October 2014 held in Committee Room Two of
North London Business Park from 10am-12pm
Attendees:
Ray Booth (RB) / Chief Executive, Barnet Mencap
Anthony Nicholson (AN) / Carer’s Representative
Caroline Powls (CP) / Service User and Carer Involvement Officer, LBB
Tom Kerrigan (TK)
Andrea Breen (AB)
Sarah Perrin (SP)
Amal Nawarathna (AN)
Alison Hibberd
Christine McDonagh (CMcD)
Wilfred Canagaretna (WC)
Tom Kerrigan and Andrea Breen / Co-chair and carers’ representative
Co-chair, LBB
Carers’ Project Manager
Carers’ Project Officer
Carers’ Services Manager
Carers representative
Health and Wellbeing Board representative
Chair
APOLOGIES:
Christine Marchesi
Stella Henriques
Janice Hembrow
Jeffrey Breslaw
Rhoda Fynn / Carers Representative
Carers Representative
Carers Representative
Carers Representative
Carers Representative
Hilary Franklin / Carers Representative
Andrew Cowen / Carers Representative
Item No. / Description / Action
1. / Welcome and Apologies
2. / The Carers Project Team presentation – Sarah Perrin
Sarah Perrin gave a presentation about the Carers Project team and their new roles, as well as the key changes from the Care Act.
Some of the key areas the Carers Project Team will be focusing on:-
· Information and advice available to carers
· Looking at current services available to carers
· Developing carers strategy
· Reviewing carers needs assessments
· Developing carers policy and working with Children’s and Families to develop young carers policy
· Training for practitioners
· Quality of the services that we provide
· Working with Barnet Integrated Locality Team:- / CP to send presentation to everyone
SP to set up Carers Care Act Working Group and to send email to CSPB members regarding this
3. / Carers Strategy Action Plan – Sarah Perrin
Sarah gave a presentation on the Carers Strategy Action plan. The following points were noted:-
· There are a number of subgroups identified (Training and Information, Health and Employment) within the action plan SP asked whether CSPB felt that it was necessary to have a number of sub groups or would CSPB be happy with the formation of a CSPB working group to push forward items identified on the Action Plan? The Board felt that this may be a good way forward.
· The Direct Payments forum (facilitated by Caroline Powls) is on hold at present CP will provide an update from the finance manager at the next board meeting on direct payments and related issues. CSPB discussed that the process around DPs needs to be clearer.
· The Carers’ Health Subgroup has been amalgamated with the Learning Disability Health Development group However, the LD Health Development Group is specific to LD carers therefore, SP suggested that once the CSPB working group is established they carry forward this aspect of the action plan.
· SP suggested that the CSPB working group review the Action Plan, as it is important to ensure that these actions are completed. RB suggested that perhaps some of the larger tasks need to be broken down to make them more manageable.
· CSPB also discussed whether there should also be criteria to measure whether actions have been achieved / SP to email CSPB regarding formation of a CSPB working group to review and action plan.
GJ to update the board on pre-paid cards etc.
4. / Communications and Engagement – Sarah Perrin
SP introduced a workshop on how Adults and Communities currently communicates with carers and asked CSPB to help identify how this process could be improved.
SP asked the board how they find out information from the Council at the moment, as well as what works and what does not work.
The following points were made:-
· The local press carried an article about Barnet General Hospital having a long waiting list for operations. This is the kind of information we should be getting from the Council.
· Affinity has a website where people can get progress updates if they log in with their mobile phone number.
· There is a tendency to bombard people with emails but we need to think of a better way to communicate messages other than just through emails.
· having a contact name is useful for people finding out information.
· Barnet Carers Centre newsletter is really good so we should link up with them if we need to publicise information.
· The Clinical Commissioning Group patient reference group just started up recently and is another key contact for the dissemination of information.
· The Board should link with all the different engagement groups. For example each partnership board should identify someone to link into community groups e.g. Carers Forum, Healthwatch.
· The board agreed that there should be a Care Act working group.
· It was recognised that carers may not be able to attend meetings because of their caring responsibilities and that this should not stop them volunteering.
· SP asked how people want to get this information about the Care Act.
· In October/November there will be another open consultation plus other briefing sessions on the Care Act led by the project team.
· / SP to send out invitations to the Care Act working group
AB suggested sending out a presentation recently done by DWG providing an overview of the Care Act / AB to provide presentation to CP to send out to Board
5 / Gary Johnson Universal Deferred Payments
GJ gave a presentation on Universal Deferred Payments.
He explained that the Care Act comes into force in April 2014. As part of the first phase of consultation, the Council are consulting on this. All councils have deferred payments schemes, but the Care Act is making this universal. In simple terms this is the legal charge on an individual’s property to secure the debt incurred by the cost of their care. Gary gave an overview of what the current consultation is about.
The Board asked a number of questions relating to the consultation ith GJ dealt with.
The Board also raised some queries over DPs and specifically a point on some of the wording on the invoice letters currently being sent out. GJ said that this reference would not apply to an individual at home but that he would raise this point upon his return to the office.
· / GJ to be asked to attend next meeting to discuss DPcome back more regularly Care cost is the big issue for people.
6 / Alison Hibberd – Barnet Carers’ Centre
Alison gave a general overview of the work of Barnet Carers’ Centre (please see attached presentation).
The following points were made:-
· The Carers Centre does not do any of the statutory Carers' Needs Assessments. They process some carers’ needs assessments but would not pass on the details to Adult Social Services. The Council are meeting with the Carers Centre about this as there should be better information sharing, but this should be balanced with the need for confidentiality.
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· There are a number of issues regarding the Carers Forum which the Carers Centre aims to address.
· The Carers Centre has had several staffing issues but it is hoped that the situation will soon improve.
· As a result some of the things that the Carers Centre currently offer may have to be stopped, but it is understood that they have to fulfil the contract.
· The hospital discharge officer has left. This was an important function but the Hospital Discharge project will be continued through its legacy.
· The Carers Centre is aiming to identify hidden carers and work with the GPs in registering new carers. We will advise groups like Healthwatch of this as Enter and View will be a good opportunity to do identify carers.
6. / Consultations- Caroline Powls
CP gave an update on all the open consultations. It was agreed that there should be a regular slot on consultations. / CP to collate consultations for the next CSPB
7. / Updates from the Sub groups, Healthwatch and Carers Forum
Subgroups- None
Healthwatch- update provided
Carers Forum-CP explained that the Annual General meeting will be held on 23rd October in Barnet House.
Christine McDonagh updated the board about the last forum which launched the carers of people in residential care group to be supported in the future by the Barnet Carers’ Centre.
8. / Carers’ Matters
None.
9. / Action log, Minutes of the last meeting and matters arising
Actions will form part of the minutes in the future and the minutes will be less discursive.
10. / Any Other Business
None
11 / Date of Next meeting
10th December 1-4pm in Training Room Seven
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CSPB Minutes 8th October 2014