The report of the Strategic Director of Children’s Services (Document “H”) provides a requested update on the plans to meet the needs of Young Carers within the Bradford District. The Young Carers Service is a commissioned service which meets the Council’s statutory duty to provide an assessment for Young Carers, as well as providing other resources following assessment.

The Carers Resource was successful in gaining the new tender from 1^st April 2019 and this report is an update of their progress to date.

Previous reports have been presented; the last one was on 13^th February 2019.  

Recommended -

(1)          That the Overview and Scrutiny receive the report for information, note  the progress and  support continued development in our jointly commissioned service.

(2)          That the Committee continue to receive annual reports from the service and that these are scheduled  for June 2020  to give the service time to report on a full year of activity.

(Cath Dew – 01274 437949)

Resolved –

That a further report be presented to this Committee at the meeting on Wednesday 15 April 2020 which focuses specifically on:

(a)   Progress being made against key performance indicators.

(b)   The new model for providing support to young carers.

ACTION:  Strategic Director of Children’s Services

The report of the Strategic Director of Children’s Services (Document “H”) provided a requested update on the plans to meet the needs of Young Carers within the Bradford District. The Young Carers Service was a commissioned service which met the Council’s statutory duty to provide an assessment for Young Carers, as well as providing other resources following assessment.

It was reported that the Carers Resource was successful in gaining the new tender from 1^st April 2019 and this report was an update of their progress to date.

Previous reports had been presented; with the last one being on 13^th February 2019.  

Members sought clarification in relation to what actually constituted inappropriate care that was being provided by young people. In response, members were informed that inappropriate care involved excessive care, where it was causing harm to the young carer.  Members heard that some young carers were reaching a crisis point in their care arrangements, however intense one to one care was being developed for such young carers to support them.

Several members commented on the need to reach out to young carers in all communities, such as the South Asian and Easter European Communities.  Members referred to the £50,000 additional funding that was secured for summer activities programmes to 500 young carers and asked how many places were allocated to young carers from South Asian communities?In response members were informed by officers that they were not able to say how many places had been allocated to Young Carers from South Asian Communities.  However, officers did comment that it was difficult to engage with young carers from the South Asian and Eastern European communities but officers were working with the Children’s Society, in relation to engagement with hidden groups and this would also include those communities to help in identifying young carers.

Members asked whether there had been any outcomes from the Equality Impact Assessment that had been undertaken as part of the contract tendering process.  Officers stated that as part of the contract tendering process, there had been no changes to the service provision; hence,  they did not need to undertake an Equality Impact Assessment.

There was considerable discussion amongst members about the performance against key performance indicators, as well as the new model for providing care to young carers.  Members were keen to explore this further.

A young carer was also in attendance.  The young carer talked about their experience and the support available to them.  They informed members, that as a result of the support that they received from the Young Carers Service, they were able to have a good balance between providing care and support for their own life.

Resolved –

That a further report be presented to this Committee at the meeting on Wednesday 15 April 2020 which focuses specifically on:

(a)   Progress being made against key performance indicators.

(b)   The new model for providing support to young carers.

ACTION:  Strategic Director of Children’s Services