Issue - meetings

The Board resolved :-

(i)            to approve the proposal to extend the timeframe of the Aberdeen City Carers Strategy contained in Appendix A;

(ii)          to approves the plans for a subsequent full review of the Aberdeen City Carers Strategy;

(iii)         to instruct the Chief Officer, ACHSCP to bring back the revised  Aberdeen City Carers Strategy for approval to the March 2022 IJB meeting; and

(iv)         to instruct the Chief Officer, ACHSCP to consider how to provide assurance to the IJB on current delivery of the Carers Strategy.

The Board had before it the report from the Chief Officer, ACHSCP which sought approval for the extension of the timeframe of the current Aberdeen City Carers Strategy and subsequent full review.

The Board heard from the Lead Strategy and Performance Manager, ACHSCP who explained the current review was overdue as a consequence of the pandemic response and that the review should have been completed by March 2021. Whilst acknowledging the crucial role carried out by carers and agreeing the current position was not desirable, Members heard that an extension to that requirement was now requested.

Members heard that whilst the review was indeed overdue, it was a requirement of the Carers (Scotland ) Act 2016 to refresh the strategy approved on 27 March 2018 and that consultation with carers was essential as recent data suggested that 34% felt unsupported.

Members heard that a ‘Carers Conversation’ had been developed and would be applied to the review which would also ensure lived experience was captured.

Members heard from the Chief Officer, ACHSCP who wished to provide assurance that carers were being supported in the current pandemic response and that it was appropriate that carers concerns be raised and discussed.

Members heard that whilst the delay was not of choosing, this now offered a further opportunity to deliver a more robust review and redesign building on ongoing carers support across the system.

The report recommended :-

that the Board –

a)            approve the proposal to extend the timeframe of the Aberdeen City Carers Strategy contained in Appendix A;

b)            approve the plans for a subsequent full review of the Aberdeen City Carers Strategy; and

c)            instruct the Chief Officer, ACHSCP to bring back the revised  Aberdeen City Carers Strategy for approval to the March 2022 IJB meeting

The Board resolved :-

(i)            to approve the  recommendations; and

(ii)          to instruct the Chief Officer, ACHSCP to consider how to provide assurance to the IJB on current delivery of the Carers Strategy.