Officers presented their report and gave a short presentation on the Carers Strategy and Carer Hub Development.
The carers strategy of 2011-2016 (the strategy) updates the previous strategy of 2008 -11 and is aligned with the Coalition Government's 2011 refresh of the National Carers Strategy, Recognised, valued and supported: next steps for the Carers Strategy'. The Government's refresh recognises the value of preventative services which save the Council/health services from increased expenditure in the long term on the person cared for and the carer. Preventative services which save statutory services from further expenditure are especially important in the current financial climate.
The strategy has been the subject of consultation with all known stakeholders and their responses have been incorporated into it.
The strategy, amongst other things, is being used to implement commissioning plans for carers services, including the development of the Carers Hub, which are preventative, personalized, cost effective and targeted to meet the carers' needs directly as opposed to funds being locked within providers' costs.
The officer gave a brief introduction into the background of the Hub which offers support to carers by way of access to specialist carers advice, advocacy and support services and carers training and young carers services, access to breaks - fix yourself a break' scheme, access to counselling services for carers (121 and via telephone, a carers café and aims to improve carers' quality of life and potential to work with health, public health and other statutory services.
The Carers Hub will be located in George Street and will be a walk in centre that is aimed at improving the life of carers, especially young carers in Croydon.
Members asked questions regarding concerning the range age of young carers and asked how they can use the hub, the cost of the hub and involvement of local health organisations.
The Chair of the panel thanked officers for the detailed report and presentation and the Panel RESOLVED to note the progress made on the new Croydon Carers Strategy 2011 -16: The next steps for carers in Croydon.