Solihull Council’s Joint Adults and Children’s Scrutiny Board will discuss a new five year Carers Strategy at its meeting on Thursday (22 September).
The Council has worked together with partners and carers in Solihull to create a new strategy which further develops our offer for the borough’s estimated 24,100 adult and young carers.
Cllr Tony Dicicco, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Health, explains why the strategy is needed. “Many carers may not identify themselves as carers but refer to themselves as simply doing what a parent/daughter/husband/sibling/good neighbour would do. I want to encourage carers to recognise their caring role. They make a vital contribution to health and social care in the borough. The strategy gives us a clear set of actions that demonstrate a collective local commitment to support for carers.
He continues: “We know that carers of all ages are more likely to experience an adverse impact on their own health. Supporting carers is essential if we are to close the gap of health inequalities they experience, and to maintain their wellbeing.”
Cllr Michael Gough, Cabinet Member for Children and Education, says: “The strategy is intended to ensure that carers are able to identify tangible changes in advice and support, not just from adult or children’s social care provision, but from interactions with the wider Council, the NHS, schools, voluntary and community sector organisations and employers. We look forward to hearing the views of scrutiny board on this important strategy later this week.”
The final strategy will be published on the Council website in the autumn.
Information about support for carers is available on the Carers Trust Solihull website and on this website.