Carers Partnership Board

4 February 2017

Garden Room, The Meadows Community Centre,

Cambridge CB4 3XJ
Minutes

Present
EA Eva Acs Director of Operations, Centre 33
HB Helen Brown CEO, Carers Trust Cambridgeshire
SC Sally Cleghorn Administration Officer, CAIL
RC Richard Cross Carer Representative
HD Heather Davison Coordinator, Healthwatch Cambridgeshire
SP Stuart de Prochnow Carer Representative
LG Laura Green Carers Support Manager, Carers Trust (CTC)
SH Sue Honour Chair, Carer Representative
JK Jackie King Partnership and Participation Officer, Pinpoint
SM Siobhan MacBean Service Development Manager, Disabled
Children's Social Care, CCC

EM Ella McKenzie Young Adult Carer, Carers Trust Cambridgeshire

LM Linda Mynott Head of Disability Services PD & AAT & Carers
Support, CCC
LO Lynne OBrien Service Development Manager, Older People
AT Alena Taylor CEO, CAIL

1. Welcome, introductions, apologies

Apologies: Graham Lewis, Elaine Fleet, Lenja Bell, Joseph Simon, Kadie
Chapman, Richard Holland, Pauline Mansfield.
Fen House, Fen Road, Cambridge, CB4 1UN
Tel: 0300 111 2301 Email:admin@cambridgeshirealliance.org.uk
Registered Charity No. 1132290 Company limited by guarantee No 06861653
 Jackie King from Pinpoint said she would attend the Board in future in place of
Lenja Bell.
AT attended for the first part of the meeting as GL was ill.

2. Minutes of last meeting (6 Dec 2016) and Action Log

2.1 Minutes taken as read.
LG said there was an action to take forward on inviting someone from Total Voice,
the new advocacy service, to speak to the Board.
Action: HD to send GL/ SC the contact details.
SC reminded everyone that 2017 meeting dates were on the last page.
2.2 Action Log
AT summarised that the meeting is mainly around Young Carers. All the
Actions have been completed.

3 Carers Trust Cambridgeshire presentation on Transition of Young Carers

from School to Work/ further studies
Presentation and papers were circulated before the meeting.
Family approach to caring
LG explained that as there was a Young Adult Carers creative therapy
event on in Peterborough young carers were unable to attend this
meeting. Three other young carers also had to drop out due to their
responsibilities. Ella, Young Adult Carer, and Helen Brown were present.
The Board was clear that it wanted to hear about Transitions,
Apprenticeships and to listen and learn.
Nationally Carers Trust estimate there are 360,000 Young Carers. The
figure may well be larger. Due to the range of tasks Young Carers have to
do they learn and use life skills much earlier than their peers.
This can lead to problems with mental health and education. There is a
high drop-out rate at colleges but the huge range of skills Young Adult
Carers acquire can be added to their CVs.
The Transition Plan emerged from the Carers Act 2014. The aim is to
deliver it well before a Young Carers 18th birthday.
Support and information are very important. They attend social groups and
are encouraged to aspire and achieve.
There are three phases that must be practical and achievable.
a) Preparation
b) Develop the plan and identify who needs to be involved
c) Implement the plan
The plan should be simple, goal oriented, flexible.

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4 Case studies
After the presentation the Board moved into smaller groups to create a Young
Adults Transition Plan for Rebecca . This was followed by a full Board
discussion on what issues should be taken forward.

Break

5 Case studies
Continued

6 Feedback session

Group 1- identified support with relatives at home, asked what support the cared
for person had, GP appointments, more emotional support, suggested the Think
Family approach, identified what Rebecca really wants to do.

Group 2 check they are not duplicating other work thats being done, asked if
her previous referrals were appropriate for her, education and support over
apprenticeships, health, care for the cared for, action for her now and in the
future up to 25, help with navigating options.

Group 3 health, self-esteem, what really are her aspirations, need for careers
advice and a Transition Plan. The plan has to be practical, needs to support her
to be independent outside of statutory services. Practical issues might be
availability of transport, possibility of driving lessons, phone costs, online
learning.

The Board discussed safeguarding issues. The Transition Plan is discussed with
parents but adult carers can keep their carer assessments private.
LG summed up that brief to the Board had been to listen and learn. She hoped
members have gained insight into the issues young carers face. Flexibility in the
plan is important.
Board was asked to say what was missing.
HB handed out a chart from NHS England on Young Carers Interaction with
Health. She said what is missing is the role of health because Young Carers are
more likely to have long-term health conditions, including depression, than the
general public. They are more likely to report poor experiences with the health
services.
SdP his group looked at the question of GPs flagging up young people as
carers. Young people might not even be aware that they can do that. Theyre not
getting priority as adult carers are.
LG can we turn this into an action?
HD how does the Board engage with health providers?

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 Action: Agreed to ask for feedback from CPFT.
Action: EA to send CAIL her contact with CPFT to invite them to speak to the
CPB.

LG reported from Tracy Hyland on support for infant carers. HB added that there
are carers as young as five. The Childrens Commissioner has queried why this
happens and how best to identify them. LG added that Tracy chairs a dynamic
meeting in Norfolk and would be happy to explore this further.
SH Any Young Adult Carer interested in joining the Board would be welcome.
SM what can schools do?
JK head teachers dont always know which pupils are carers. Registration
forms usually have a tick box Are you a Young Carer?
HB there is still stigma about it and some may not even identify themselves as
carers.
Ella gave an example of a young person not doing homework and often being
late. He had not been identified as a Young Carer. It showed a lack of
communication within the school.
SH every member of staff should know.

Action: HB will send CAIL the link to the report from the Childrens
Commissioner about Young Carers.
Action : Christine Richardson could be invited to speak.
Action: SM suggested that members should commit to regularly flagging up that
Young Carers exist. Board agreed
Action : LM will take this forward.

7 Next steps for Carers Partnership Board

8 Any other business

LG flagged up Carers Week June 12-18 and the Pride in our Carers Award
HB said the National All Age Carers Strategy was due out late Spring/
early Summer. She suggested this should be an Agenda item later on.
GL CAIL is holding a Cross-board event entitled Hidden Voices on 14
Feb at Netherhall School.
15 Feb Making Spaces has an event at Tesco Bar Hill.

Next meeting:
April 4, 1:30pm-3:30pm, Papworth Village Hall, Ermine St South, Papworth
Everard CB23 2RD
Refreshments will be available from 12.45pm.

Carers pre meeting will start at 1pm. Main meeting will begin at 1.30pm prompt

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 2017 meeting dates

April 4, 1:30pm-3:30pm, Papworth Village Hall, Ermine St South, Papworth

Everard CB23 2RD

June 6, 10:30-12:30, Orchard Park Community Centre, Cambridge CB4 2EZ

July 25, 1:30pm-3:30pm, Papworth Village Hall, Ermine St South, Papworth

Everard CB23 2RD

October 3, 10:30-12:30, Orchard Park Community Centre, Cambridge CB4 2EZ

November 28, 1:30-3:30, Papworth Village Hall, Ermine St South, Papworth

Everard CB23 2RD

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