Issue - meetings

Mr Michael Thomas-Sam, Strategic Business Adviser Social Care, Ms Lisa Clinton, Stakeholder Engagement Manager and Mr Simon Mitchell, Senior Commissioning Manager were in attendance for this item.

1.    Mr Thomas-Sam introduced the report and highlighted the key areas of the Carers’ Strategy. Mr Thomas-Sam thanked the Members of the Cabinet Committee who took part in the Member co-production meetings.

2.    Mr Thomas-Sam, Ms Clinton and Mr Mitchell responded to comments and questions from the committee, including the following:

(a)  Asked about the survey Ms Clinton said there had been 387 responses in total and extensive engagement and co-production had taken place in advance of the consultation.

(b)  Mr Thomas-Sam said progress monitoring and reporting would form part of regular reports to the Cabinet Committee. The Corporate Director would have the delegated authority to review the strategy mid-way through to ensure relevant factors were reflected before the end of the 5-year programme.

(c)  Asked about reaching out to hidden carers Mr Thomas-Sam said the government had set out a plan to ensure improved data quality and profiling on individuals would inform what could be done locally.

(d)  Asked about strategy resources Mr Smith said changes within Adult Social Care required the development of a delivery plan and re-prioritising and realigning budgets. Carers needed timely responses, access to information and inexpensive services. The strategy was the starting point of the process and would constantly be under review.

RESOLVED that the decision to be taken by the Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health to:

(a)  Adopt the Kent Adult Carers Strategy 2022 to 2027;

(b)  Delegate authority to the Corporate Director Adult Social Care and Health to refresh and/or make revisions as appropriate during the lifetime of the strategy; and

(c)  Delegate authority to the Corporate Director Adult Social Care and Health to take relevant actions, including but not limited to finalising the terms of and entering into required contract or other legal agreements, as necessary to implement the objectives of the Kent Adult Carers Strategy

be endorsed.