Decision details

The Group Director, Community & Children’s Services presented the annual report before Members which sought Members approval for submission of the report to Welsh Government. 

The Group Director advised that Welsh Government provided transitional funding of £1million per annum for Wales in 2020/21 (£161,000 for Cwm Taf Morgannwg) to protect and build on progress to date and to support the expansion of Carers rights under the implementation of the SSWB Act. The annual report before Members details how the transitional funding was spent in Cwm Taf Morgannwg during the year. Members were provided with the key areas of work across the region which included:

·       Around £135,500 of the Carers Grant funding was allocated to third sector organisations through an application process.

·       Support to encourage GP surgeries to take part in accredited Carer Awareness training to become Carer Champions.

·       Improvements to the hospital discharge process for unpaid carers.

The Cabinet Member for Adult Community services & Welsh Language spoke of the opportunity before them to acknowledge the work taken forward with carers and vulnerable people across the County Borough, through the publication of the Cwm Taf Morgannwg Carers Annual Report. 

The cabinet member welcomed the funding allocated to the 3^rd sector and spoke of the positive work taken forward by the 3^rd sector and took the opportunity to put on record his thanks for their continuing support. Reference was made to the Support to encourage GP surgeries to take part in accredited Carer Awareness training to become Carer Champions.  The Cabinet Member welcomed the Improvements to the hospital discharge process for unpaid carers.

The Cabinet Member for Children’s Services welcomed the report before Members and spoke positively of the Young Carer Card scheme which was launched in RCT in March 2021, which offers young carers an easy way to start a conversation about their role and also provided the added benefit of discounts attached in local shops for those with the card.

Following discussions, it was RESOLVED:

1.    To approve the 2020/21 Cwm Taf Morgannwg Carers Annual Report attached as Appendix 1 to the report.

2.    To note the publication by Welsh Government of a Strategy for Unpaid Carers in March 2021 and acknowledges this as a key document in planning and delivering carer services across the Council.