Agenda item

a)    Report of Corporate Director Children and Young People’s Service

b)    Presentation by Strategic Manager, Children’s Services Reform

The Committee considered the Joint Report of the Director Transformation and Partnerships and the Interim Corporate Director Children & Young People’s Services which provided an update on Young Carers in County Durham (for copy of report, see file of minutes).

Members received a presentation from the Strategic Manager, Children’s Services Reform that provided the background; priorities in December 2015 when the last update was received; progress since December 2015 including the Horizons project which helped young people in the transition to adulthood; Raising Aspirations a Bridge Young Carers Project which supports young carers to attend university open days, Referrals to the Bridge Young Carers Project has increased with 190 referrals from a range of agencies and 132 assessments.  Breaks and opportunities continue to be offered to young carers ranging from non-residential breaks, residential breaks and opportunities such as driving lessons to bus passes and sports equipment.

Progress has been made in the development of an E-Learning module, Carers Card Discount Scheme and the Young Carers Service has been marketed.  The Bridge Project had worked with Macmillan Cancer Care to support carers of cancer suffers and this work has been shortlisted for a Children and Young People Now national award. Members were advised that improvements had been made to the website and Bishop Auckland and Shildon Area Action Partnership had received a Young Carer Neighbourhood Charter. Priorities for 2016/17 were to continue to improve engagement among all services and to continue to implement the Young Carer Charter to improve the identification of children and young people with caring responsibilities.  It was highlighted that when adults are being discharged from hospital questions should be asked as to who will be taking on caring responsibilities and responsibilities for administering drugs (for copy of slides, see file of minutes).

Councillor Hart asked if they reached all children who were carers would they have the resources available.

Officers responded that not all young carers had a detrimental impact. The lower level needs were to ensure that they were attending school. The One Point service meant that children were in their sights and they could refer to more intense services if needed.

The Head of Education advised that all schools had a duty to support young carers and had a universal service to support young cares and sometimes it was just arranging for pupils to arrive late at school to enable them to take younger siblings to school or allow them to bring a mobile telephone into lessons.

The Chairman thanked the Officer for her presentation and asked if she could provide Members with an update at a later stage.