Issue - items at meetings - Publication of Adult Carers Strategy

Report of the Corporate Director of Adults, Housing and Health. To be presented by the Cabinet Member for Health, Social Care, and Wellbeing

Declarations of interest for this item:

None

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet:

1. Approved the Haringey Adult Carers Strategy 2025 - 2028 and endorsed the proposed first-phase delivery plan.

Reasons for decision

The Council has a responsibility under Section 2 of the Care Act 2014 to prevent, reduce or delay Carers coming into need of further services, or delaying deterioration wherever possible.

There are also legislative requirements for health and care statutory partners in relation to Carers; further there are relevant interdependencies within the Equality Act protected characteristics, including age, disability, gender and race.

The joined-up approach taken has also framed supporting Carers’ resilience, health and wellbeing as a borough responsibility, beyond just health and social care boundaries.

Our CQC report in February 2025 indicated that Carers were often dissatisfied with the level of support they received from the Council. This Strategy is part of our commitment to our improvement journey with Carers who provide unpaid care and support to residents in Haringey. We have listened to not only the CQC feedback but also to feedback across several different methods of engagement and coproduction with Carers across the borough.

The Cabinet Member for Health, Social Care and Wellbeing introduced the report.

It was explained that the Haringey Adult Carers Strategy 2025–2028 was a commitment to the thousands of unpaid adult carers who supported family or friends across our borough.

It was explained that the Strategy was the result of collaboration, co-produced with carers themselves, alongside our partners in health, social care and the voluntary sector. It was additionally noted that the Strategy set out clear priorities to improve access to support, enhance wellbeing and reduce inequalities and that it was a recognition of the challenges carers faced and a promise to stand with them, ensuring they were seen, heard and valued.

In response to comments and questions from Councillors Ovat, Carlin, Cawley-Harrison the following information was shared:

It was explained that the strategy had been co-produced with carers with an initial engagement in 2023, including surveys, workshops, outreach to community groups.
It was explained that there was a joint-partnership board and reference groups which would provide input on the implementation of the plan. It was noted that the strategy also was required to be presented to the Health and Wellbeing Board, which would allow for Health colleagues to monitor the implementation.
It was explained that the detail within the Strategy had given assurance that the Council was taking Carers seriously within the borough. It was also noted that the Council provided funding to some local Carers groups to provide support to them.
It was noted that there was a significant amount of Council support for Carers and Carer groups that would be funded through the Better Care Fund.