Integrated Impact Assessments – Implementation of Supporting Adult Carers and Caring Relationships Policy

Implementation of Supporting Adult Carers and Caring Relationships Policy

There is currently no specific formal Policy for Supporting Adult Carers and Caring Relationships. A “Breaks with Caring and Respite” Procedure was implemented in April 2013 and last reviewed in December 2014. Since then, there have been significant changes in legislation, particularly with the implementation of the Self-Directed Support (Scotland) Act (2013) and the Carers (Scotland) Act (2016); leading to a Short Breaks Services Statement for the Partnership. This has established the requirement to promote variety, flexibility, choice and control within commissioning and service provision and a shift in Strategical planning to co-production and market facilitation.

The Supporting Adult Carers and Caring Relationships will set out and define how the Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership will support Unpaid Adult Carers to enjoy a life outside of and/or alongside of their caring role, support their health and wellbeing and sustain their caring relationships to continue in their role.

• Evidence used to inform development of the policy has been widely consulted on both locally and nationally.

• Varying levels of consultation and engagement shaping the different versions with local carer organisations, 3rd sector providers, Edinburgh Carer Support Team.

• Feedback from Shared Care Scotland through involvement with their promoting variety programme

• Carer Focus event held on 24th February 2023 with the purpose of consulting on the draft policy. Representatives in attendance included, Unpaid Carers, Carer Organisations, 3rd Sector professionals, Integration Joint Board Carer representative and Edinburgh Health and Social Care.

7th June 2022

Reviewed and updated 22nd March 2023.

Name Job title Date of IIA training
Emma Pemberton

CEC

Report Writer

Care and Support Manager – Learning Disability Services, EHSCP 28/10/21
Robert Smith

CEC

Care and Support Manager – Learning Disability Services, EHSCP
Kyle Oram

CEC

Planning and Commissioning Officer – Older People, Unpaid Carers and Day Opportunities, EHSCP
Hugo Whitaker

Third Sector Representative

Development Worker – Adult Health and Wellbeing, EVOC
Ruth McLennan

Carer Organisation Representative

CEO – Care for Carers
Laura Stirling

CEC – Locality Team Representative

Cluster Manager – NW, EHSCP
Keith Lugton

NHS

Carer Co-ordinator – Integrated Carer Support team, EHSCP
Christine Farquhar

(unable to attend meeting – views offered out with IIA meeting)

EIJB Carer Representative
Ruth Hendery

(unable to attend meeting – views offered out with IIA meeting)

EIJB Carer Representative
Evidence Available – detail source Comments: what does the evidence tell you with regard to different groups who may be affected and to the environmental impacts of your proposal
Data on populations in need Scottish Government 2016) 2013 Scottish Household Survey

The Scottish Health Survey (2016) https://www.gov.scot/publications/scottish-health-survey-2016-volume-1-main-report/pages/60/

EHSCP Joint carers Strategy

Carers Uk Report May 2022

A carer is ‘a person of any age who provides, or intends to provide, unpaid help and support to a relative, friend or neighbour who cannot manage to live independently without the carer’s help due to frailty, illness, disability, or addiction’.”

Established partnerships in Edinburgh provide support to 65,084 carers per year or 13.7% of the population in Edinburgh.

The population in Edinburgh is projected to increase faster than any other city in Scotland over the next 20 years. Based on historical trend analysis, the annual population growth for the city is estimated to be between five to six thousand, with those aged 85+ projected to grow by 28% between 2012 and 2022. By 2037, the number of those aged 85+ is set to more than double. The number of people living with Dementia could rise by 61.7% to 11,548 people by 2035.

In addition, the proportion of people with two or more long term conditions increases with age. recent study for instance suggests 1/3 (66.3%) of people aged 46-48 years have two or more long term conditions in the 2021 Edinburgh Joint Strategic Needs Assessment.

Carers are recognised within EIJB’s Strategic Plan 2019-2022 as equal partners in care, supporting people of all ages in their own homes and community now and in the future. There is an expected increase in the number of people who are carers in the city over the coming years as a direct result of predicted changes in Edinburgh’s population, and the Partnerships ability to get better at identifying carers.

20% of the general public aged 18 and over are currently caring. This means that there are currently an estimated 887,815 carers in Scotland.

69% of people in Scotland don’t think that the role of being an unpaid carer is valued – with just over one in five people, 21%, thinking carers are valued. 10% weren’t sure whether carers are valued by the general public.

Data on service uptake/access
Carers’ charter – gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

Young carers statement from carers charter

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Carer involvement in services

Carers’ charter – gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

 

Part 1: Key Definitions – Carers (Scotland) Act 2016: statutory guidance – updated July 2021 – gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

Shared Care Scotland

You are a ‘carer’ if you provide (or intend to provide) care for another person – but not;

·       if this is only because of that person’s age (where they are under 18);

·       if you are caring because you have a contract or as voluntary work.

·       The previous definition for being identified as a ‘carer’ does not apply.

·       You can be caring for someone for any number of hours. You do not need to be providing a substantial amount of care for someone on a regular basis.

·       Meaning of young carer You are a ‘young carer’ if you are a carer (as above) and are also;

·       under the age of 18

·       18 or over, but still attending school

·       You are an ‘adult carer’ if you meet the criteria for a carer above and are aged 18 or over, and not attending school

The Carers (Scotland) Act 2016 distinguishes between young carers and adult carers;

  • A young carer is a carer who is under 18 years old or is 18 years old and is still at school.
  • An adult carer is a carer who is at least 18 years and not a young carer.

The responsible authority must offer a young carer statement to anyone they identify as a young carer. They must prepare a young carer statement for anyone who accepts this offer. They must also prepare a young carer statement for anyone who meets the definition of young carer if the young carer requests one.

When you turn 18 years of age, any young carer statement you have, will continue until you are provided with an adult carer support plan. If you do not wish to continue providing care, you can choose not to have an adult carer support plan.

·       Your local authority and health board must ‘take such steps as they consider appropriate’ to involve carers and carer representatives in the planning and evaluation of services that support carers. This includes the local authority preparing the local carer strategy. It also includes planning services for people being cared for where those services relate to the care that carers provide.

·       Your local authority must involve you in assessing your needs for support and decisions about how any such support is to be provided. These issues will normally be included in the conversation as part of your adult carer support plan or young carer statement.

·       Your local authority must take your views into account in assessing the needs of the person being cared for, as far as that is ‘reasonable and practical’. They must also take account of the care that you are providing, or intend to provide. This means, for example, if you are able to provide care in the evening but not during the daytime, the support needs of the person you are caring for should be considered with this in mind.

·       The criteria should be set and published by each local authority . Used to determine whether the local authority is required to provide support to meet an individual carer’s identified needs.  In many cases, this is a duty for the Integration Authority

Removal of ‘regular and substantial test’ – 1.1.7. The definition of carer is not limited to individuals who provide or intend to provide a substantial amount of care on a regular basis. This represents a change from previous legislation on duties to carry out a ‘carer’s assessment’.

Exclusions – voluntary work – 1.1.13. Under section 1(2)(b)(ii), if the care is or would be provided as voluntary work, then the person undertaking that voluntary work is not seen as a carer.

Exclusions – paid care workers – 1.1.14. Paid care workers are excluded from the meaning of carer. This is because under section 1(2)(b)(i), if the care is or would be provided under or by virtue of a contract, then, to the extent that the care is provided under the contract, the person providing the care is not a carer.

Regulation making power – contract and /or voluntary work – 1.1.16. Under section 1(3)(b), Scottish Ministers may make regulations to permit a relevant authority to disregard section 1(2)(b) where the authority considers that the relationship between the carer and the cared-for person is such that it would be appropriate to do so. This would enable people who would otherwise be excluded from the definition to be considered carers.

1.1.17. This allows Scottish Ministers to make regulations to allow a local authority to support carers who provide care by way of a contract or through voluntary work to be classed as ‘carers’. This is especially relevant in the case of carers who provide care both on a paid and unpaid basis to same family member. As the Social Care (Self-directed Support) (Scotland) Act 2013 (‘the 2013 Act’) becomes even more widely used, it is likely that direct payments under the 2013 Act will mean that the number of ‘mixed carers’ who provide both paid care, by way of a contract with the person they care for, and unpaid care are likely to rise. This power allows legislation to take account of the possible rise in the different types of these caring situations.

Person caring for someone in residential care – 1.1.27. When an adult is in full-time residential care such as a care home, nursing home or secure unit, there is a question as to whether the person who cared for them prior to them being admitted into residential care is still the carer.

1.1.28. The person in residential care is being provided with accommodation, meals, personal and health care. Nevertheless, some people still consider themselves to be a carer. This may be due to continuing with some caring tasks such as shopping, emotional support, personal care, dealing with personal affairs, and taking their loved one on days out. There is also the emotional impact on the carer of the person being in residential care. Other people do not consider themselves to be carers in this situation.

1.1.29. When a cared-for person is first admitted full-time to residential care, the person who was the carer may continue to have caring responsibilities in the initial settling-in period. This then may diminish over time.

1.1.30. In the circumstances of the cared-for person being in full-time residential care, then the responsible local authority should decide on a case-by-case basis if the person is providing or intending to provide care for the individual. If the responsible local authority recognises that the person is providing or intending to provide care then an adult carer support plan or young carer statement should be offered. Such a person may themselves request an adult carer support plan or young carer statement. Their request should be granted if they are providing or intending to provide care.

Meaning of Care1.1.37. The focus is on the impact of care on the carer. As such, the definition of carer does not include any threshold for the level of care provided. In every situation, a proportionate approach to the preparation of the adult carer support plan or young carer statement should be adopted, taking into account the impact of the caring role on the carer.

The four options of Self-directed Support are:

Option 1: a Direct Payment (a cash payment);
Option 2: funding allocated to a provider of your choice (sometimes called an individual service fund, where the council holds the budget but the person is in charge of how it is spent);
Option 3: the local authority can arrange a service for you; or
Option 4: you can choose a mix of these options for different types of support.

2.1.73. There is no single approach to resource allocation prescribed on the face of the Social Care (Self-directed Support) (Scotland) Act 2013, nor any single method recommended by the Scottish Government. The authority may wish to adopt an equivalence model where they determine the cost of the service to be arranged and then provide the equivalent amount as a budget for the supported person or carer to control. Alternatively, it may wish to adopt a resource allocation system whereby the authority gathers information about the person’s outcomes; allocates points to those outcomes; and then allocates a level of funding. In addition, decisions about budgets may be made on a case by case basis. It is recommended to make reference to the statutory guidance to accompany the Social Care (Self-directed Support) (Scotland) Act 2013.

Traditionally the term ‘respite care’ has been used to define a break from caring, but this term is often associated with more institutional forms of service or hospital based stays. Despite the fact that most services have now moved on, this perception still exists. We therefore prefer the description ‘short break’ or ‘a break from caring’, as we believe these are more acceptable descriptions. They imply the prospect of positive outcomes for everyone involved and shared benefits. Changing the language also challenges us to think more imaginatively about the many alternative ways people can be supported to have a break.

Services or assistance enabling carers to be in employment are not a ‘respite’ break because the right to work is a universal human right. Such services or assistance are vital to many carers, but in addition carers, like any employed person, have a right to time for themselves for rest, leisure and to pursue wider interests.

To minimise the levels of stress that can be generated by these events, an emergency plan should be prepared in advance that includes any options for emergency respite cover. This will be particularly important for any carers that are at increased risk due to their own health or caring circumstances.

Unpaid Carers have been adversely impacted as a result of the Covid-19 Pandemic. In carrying out a study on the impact of the Pandemic on Carers, The Carers Trust Scotland report 90% of respondents state that they are now providing more care than prior to the Pandemic.

Data on socio-economic disadvantage e.g. low income, low wealth, material deprivation, area deprivation. Women are known to be disproportionately affected by their Unpaid Caring role, with a greater impact for those over 50. Nationally women carers represent 60% of carers compared to men who represent 40%. Many Unpaid Carers give up work to carry out their caring role and can struggle to re-enter the workforce.
Data on equality outcomes Carers’ charter – gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

Part 1: Key Definitions – Carers (Scotland) Act 2016: statutory guidance – updated July 2021 – gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

The Act extends and enhances the rights of carers in Scotland to help improve their health and wellbeing, so that they can continue to care, if they so wish, and have a life alongside caring.

As required by section 36 of the Act the Scottish Ministers have prepared the Carers’ charter, setting out the rights of carers in or under the Act.

Consideration of equalities when identifying outcomes:

1.53. Section 8(2) requires that in identifying an adult carer’s personal outcomes and needs for support, the responsible local authority must take into account any impact that having one or more protected characteristics (within the meaning of section 149(7) of the Equality Act 2010) has on the adult carer.

Equalities Examples

Older carers

Older carers may have to manage their own long-term conditions and frailty which may impact considerably on their ability to provide care.

Sensory loss & deafblindness

Where an adult carer has dual sensory loss or is deafblind, responsible local authorities could have an appropriately skilled professional involved in the ACSP or consider a specialist assessment undertaken by a professional with dedicated skills in understanding the impact that deafblindness or dual sensory loss can have on an individual person and their family.

English not a first language

When planning to undertake an ACSP, it is identified that English is not the carer’s first language. In this situation, it is recommended that the responsible local authority would offer deaf-blindness or dual sensory loss can have on an individual person and their family.

Carers with a learning disability

In the case of adult carers who have a learning disability, responsible local authorities may consider who is best placed to undertake the ACSP. The carer may have barriers to participate in their ACSP. Consideration of the use of an independent advocate alongside the carer may help the carer to express their views and opinions on what their needs and personal outcomes are. The carer may also require their own social care needs assessment alongside their ACSP and to the level at which they may reach eligibility for support as undertaking a smaller caring role may have a much greater impact on an older carer than other carers.

Research/literature evidence Joint Carers Strategy

2021 Carer Survey – Summary of findings – VOCAL

The strategy remains focused on six priority areas:

1. Identifying carers

2. Information and Advice

3. Carer health and wellbeing

4. Short Breaks

5. Young carers

6. Personalising support for carers.

It also incorporates the duties placed on the EHSCP, Local Authority and NHS Lothian by the Carers (Scotland) Act 2016. The strategy was developed in partnership with the third sector and unpaid carers across Edinburgh and built on learning from the 2014-2017 Edinburgh Joint Carer Strategy (EJCS), and associated review.

In developing the Carer Strategy, a total of 196 carers participated in some form of engagement, involvement, or consultation. Young carers made up 38% of the responses, and 62% were adult carers. Several themes, that mattered to the people who responded, helped shape the strategy and implementation plans, with a key focus on:

·       More breaks from caring

·       Support from other services

·       Online support

·       More financial support

·       No one-size fits all

·       Awareness, knowledge and support

Voice of Carers Across Lothian (VOCAL) are a local carer support organisation and since 2011, they have carried out a bi-annual survey of unpaid carers in Edinburgh and Lothian. The most recent survey, published in November 2021, received responses from 826 carers in Edinburgh and identified the priority areas, for carers in Edinburgh. In all these areas carers of children and young adults reported disproportionately greater negative impacts of caring and greater barriers for accessing support than those in other caring situations.

The themes indicated below, continue to be aligned with key priority areas, including: health and wellbeing, optimising financial health through information and advice, and, getting a break from caring.

Priority areas from VOCAL’s carer survey November 2021.

·       66% of respondents agree that caring has impacted their physical health and 79% that it has affected their mental health

·       52% of carers agreed that being a carer had negatively impacted their finances

·       87% of respondents said they experienced challenges when taking a break

·       46% of respondents said they would like a mix of short break options -by themself with friends/ family and with supported person

Evidence of inclusive engagement of people who use the service and involvement findings  Feedback Summary and actions from local Carer Focus Group Event facilitated by Care 4 Carers Local and national evidence and data has informed the development of the Breaks from Caring for Adult Carers Policy which is currently in draft and will be further informed on completion of the IIA and wider consultation.
Evidence of unmet need Breaks with Caring and Respite Procedure

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Disabled Children and Young People (Transitions to Adulthood) (Scotland) Bill – Bills (proposed laws) – Scottish Parliament | Scottish Parliament Website

The Carers (Scotland) Act 2016 is designed to support carers’ health and wellbeing and help make caring more sustainable. There is currently no specific formal Policy for Breaks from Caring for Unpaid Adult Carers. A “Breaks with Caring and Respite” Procedure was implemented in April 2013 and last reviewed in December 2014. Since then, there have been significant changes in legislation, particularly implementation of the Self-Directed Support (Scotland) Act (2013) and the Carers (Scotland) Act (2016); leading to a Short Breaks Services Statement for the Partnership. This has established the requirement to promote variety, flexibility, choice and control within commissioning and service provision and a shift in Strategical planning to coproduction and market facilitation.

The Bill as introduced aims to improve opportunities for disabled children and young people as they grow up. This Bill considers children to be under 18 and young people to be between 18 and 26. Johann Lamont MSP introduced the Bill because she thinks disabled children and young people need extra support to help them transition to adulthood. This will help them have the same opportunities as other children and young people. The Bill aims to make sure that there are structures in place to support disabled children and young people at that time in their lives

Good practice guidelines
Three Conversations Approach

SCS-Promoting-Variety-2021-V2.pdf (sharedcarescotland.org.uk)

Principles of Good Transitions – Scottish Transitions Forum

Chapter 6: Transitions – Additional support for learning: statutory guidance 2017 – gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

Shaping markets and facilitating choice in short breaks

 

Facilitated by Shared Care Scotland and Healthcare Improvement Scotland, Promoting Variety has been developed to shape markets and facilitate choice in short breaks through co-productive approaches. In recognition of the considerable challenges to delivering more personalised short breaks to an increasingly diverse population, promoting Variety guidance has been prepared to help local authorities and Health and Social care Partnerships work through the challenges and enable carers to access good and improving opportunities to access breaks from caring.

 

Promoting Variety is part of a coherent set of approaches transforming the way social care is experienced – and therefore commissioned. Created before the pandemic, the principles and practices it contains for increasing variety in the ‘market’ for short breaks are more immediate than ever

The guide shares the learning from a yearlong Think Tank of service commissioners and carer organisations. It explores how to support a financially sustainable ‘marketplace’ of short break opportunities that provides the choice and variety that people want. It aims to help everyone involved in commissioning, procuring and planning short breaks to:

·       Fulfil the duty and promise of ensuring variety and choice for carers and service users.

·       Benefit from the expertise of carers, colleagues and partners.

·       Determine how to meet existing and future demand.

·       Transform traditional commissioning models and implement recommendations from the Independent Review of Adult Social Care1 (‘the Feeley Review’) and Self-Directed Support (SDS) principles

Access to breaks is critically important to carers, but flexible, creative short breaks are not available consistently (e.g. in different areas or across all SDS Options). The duty and challenge is to provide variety and choice, whichever option someone chooses. “Carers don’t actually know what their short break choices are. The two options always seem to be residential or homebased respite; to my mind there’s very little awareness of other options, those that might be a bit more creative or innovative, so there’s work to do here.” –  Citied from a Social worker within promoting Variety guide.

Achieving carers’ outcomes requires innovative and collaborative approaches in the face of growing demand, increasing pressure on public finances and less capacity in services.

Many carers put the needs of the person they care for before their own and can struggle to identify what might be a good short break option for themselves. The Inspiring Breaks toolkit has been developed by carer-support professionals to reflect and build on existing good practice, helping carer-support staff across Scotland to share resources. It is designed to be used with anyone who identifies as a carer, including both adult carers and young carers. The toolkit reflects the person-centred approach in social care and adopts a personal outcomes approach. This acknowledges individuals’ strengths and interests, not just problems, and establishes a shared sense of purpose between carers and support staff. It recognises self-directed support, which enables carers to use their budgets flexibly. The toolkit uses a process that puts the carer at the heart. It supports staff to guide carers through this process towards their desired outcomes – their personal goals. It recognises that replacement care may be needed to facilitate the carer’s break, but it does not focus on how that replacement care is provided. (However, the same process could be used with the cared-for person to identify replacement care.)

The Principles of Good Transitions 3 provides a framework to inform, structure and encourage the continual improvement of support for young people with additional needs between the ages of 14 and 25 who are making the transition to young adult life. There are 7 principles but particularly relevant to this policy are Principles 3 and 6:

Principle 3.Planning should start early and continue up to age 25

This means:

  • Planning must be available from age 14 and be proportionate to need
  • Children’s plans and assessments should be adopted by adult services
  • Transition planning and support should continue to age 25

Principle 6: Families and carers need support (family wellbeing needs to be supported)

Young people’s relationships with their family can be complex, particularly where parents or carers have an ongoing role in providing personal assistance and where disability related allowances or benefits are an important contribution to the household income. The needs and roles of family members and carers are also likely to change as the young person they care for grows up. Parents and carers are usually central to the continuing care of young people with additional support needs and are the people most likely to provide guidance and support during transitions. Many parents and carers feel they must fight for support and can experience ‘burn out’ as they deal with the many new challenges associated with transitions. Too often, parents and carers describe their experience of supporting a child through transition as like ‘falling off a cliff’ or a ‘black hole’.

Scottish Government Statutory Guidance states, with planning for post-school placements, it will often be better to start the transition planning much earlier than the latest timescale required by the Act (12 months), perhaps even in the early years of secondary school, so that there is sufficient time for post-school planning.

Carbon emissions generated/reduced data No specific data
Environmental data No specific data
Risk from cumulative impacts Joint Carers Strategy
The Covid 19 pandemic has had a devastating effect on the lives of carers, those they support and the services seeking to support them through extremely challenging times. Closure or significant reduction in support provision for supported people, reduction in the workforce due to workers isolating, and criteria for accessing support becoming available only to those in significant/ critical hardship, have impacted carers in all areas. National groups are hearing of particular challenges for women who care, employment being impacted, and subsequent financial hardship.

A particular area of difficulty has been in the provision of short breaks. With strict guidance around travel and physical mixing, the ability to arrange or take a short break has provide challenging. The knock-on effect of that being carers feeling exhausted, drained, isolated and fearful with their mental and physical health all feeling the strain.

As previously highlighted, The Carers Trust Scotland report 90% of respondents state that they are now providing more care than prior to the Pandemic, with 46% of respondents stating the person(s) needs whom they care for have intensified.

Other (please specify)
Additional evidence required No
Equality, Health and Wellbeing and Human Rights
Affected populations
Positive

Development and implementation of the policy provides a clear statement of intention for how the Partnership plan to support Unpaid Adult Carers and where it is required, the provision of replacement care for cared for people. The Policy is specifically intended to benefit unpaid carers and cared for people by ensuring they are recognised and offered appropriate supports which are universally available, proportionate, responsive and reflective of the diverse needs of both the unpaid carer and the cared for person. There is recognition that carers could be caring for a number of people with different needs or caring for people who have multiple conditions; all which adds a higher level of complexity to the caring role.

The Covid-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on people’s health, wellbeing, access to services and human rights. There is a nationally recognised need for the requirement for innovative and collaborative approaches to ensure carers’ outcomes can be achieved, in the face of growing demand, increasing pressure on public finances and less capacity in services. The flexible, human rights and 3 Conversations approach embedded within this policy, enables the Partnership to work through these challenges and offer carers access to good and improving short break opportunities. This will enable wider consideration to be given where people wish to access a short break together (particularly requested by middle aged and older people who are carers and where they are often married, in a civil partnership or living together).

On agreement of the Policy further guidance for practitioners will offer clarity on how to support unpaid carers and cared for people in accessing short breaks. This will improve flexibility and personalisation through self-directed support for unpaid carers and cared for people and will improve access to ordinary systems of support rather than being marginalised or institutionalised. This will also provide a framework for practitioners, ensuring equity and consistency in decision making.

The Policy clearly separates out and recognises the different need for planned ongoing access to short breaks and access to emergency short breaks as a result of a crisis or unplanned event.

Breaks from caring will positively impact on other people, not necessarily identified as an unpaid carer, but may have a relationship with the Carer or cared for person (e.g., siblings, partner, children).

Volunteering or accessing paid employment in a different capacity to that of the direct unpaid caring role is recognised as being integral to equality, health, wellbeing and human rights of Carers. The policy will recognise Volunteering as a potential personal outcome of Unpaid Adult Carers.

 

Primarily Unpaid Carers of Adults and cared for people who cannot manage on their own due to frailty, illness, disability, or addiction’. Some people may have additional protective characteristics such as age, gender and race.

 

 

 

 

As above

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Particularly people of middle and older age, married, civil

partnership, co-habiting or families.

 

 

 

Primarily Unpaid Carers of Adults and cared for people who cannot manage on their own due to frailty, illness, disability, or addiction’. Some people may have additional protective characteristics such as age, gender and race.

 

As above.

 

 

 

 

As above. Family members, children and young people, people with a diverse range of needs.

 

All protected characteristics, primarily Unpaid carers of Adults who are also undertaking a volunteering or paid employment

 

 

 

Negative

There are no specific references within the Policy to how people with protected characteristics will be identified and supported.  It is recognised that often people with protected characteristics, particularly those from ethnic minority communities, asylum seekers and the Gypsy/ Traveller Community are often reluctant to engage, do not recognise themselves as unpaid carers or consider themselves to be in need of support, therefore important to highlight the intention of the Partnership in ensuring people with protected characteristics are widely recognised and supported.

Transitionary periods, whether from children to adult services or at any age is recognised as a stressful period and in line with the Disabled Children and Young people (Transitions to Adulthood) (Scotland) Bill, and the Principles of Good transition practice guide it is important that this is reflected within the Policy, otherwise may lead to unintended negative impacts.

Children and most young people are out with the scope of this Policy, therefore may be viewed by some as excluded.

 

There is no specific consideration of people where there is a diagnosed terminal illness or for posthumous support. These circumstances will be time critical to ensure good outcomes.

 

All protected characteristics

Children leaving school, cared for adults and Unpaid Carers involved in any transition, including moving on to full time care. Individuals may have additional protected characteristics.

 

 

Children and Young people (not within the scope of this Policy)

 

 

People with disabilities, older people, people diagnosed with or caring for someone with a terminal illness

Environment and Sustainability including climate change emissions and impacts Affected populations
Positive

Promoting and enabling the flexibility of Self-Directed Support (SDS), will positively encourage people to access their own and/ or universally available resources which will reduce duplication and costs, such as for premises, energy, heating and vehicle use.

The Policy promotes sustainable access to a wide range of short break support and opportunities across partner organisations, which are reflective of collaborative approaches informed at local and national level.  Supporting third sector providers will ensure there are robust, wide-ranging and sustainable opportunities into the future.

Support for unpaid carers in completing an Adult Carer Support Plan (ACSP) can be sought without direct contact with the Partnership or a Social Worker. This universal access will reduce any wait times for contact with local social work teams and build on the specialist knowledge and experience of supporting unpaid carers within their local community. Advice around income and financial support can also form part of these discussions.

Primarily Unpaid Carers of Adults and cared for people who cannot manage on their own due to frailty, illness, disability, or addiction’. Some people may have additional protective characteristics such as age, gender and race.

 

 

 

As above.

Negative

No negative impacts in relation to Environment or Sustainability are anticipated in relation to Adult carers or cared for people. It is not foreseen that any individual will be affected due to any other protected characteristic.

Economic Affected populations
Positive

Replacement care for planned breaks are non-chargeable regardless of the carers financial circumstances.

Access to day support is not considered replacement care within the context of a break from caring when unpaid carers are attending work.

Utilising SDS options enables people to manage and spend their individual budgets with maximised choice and flexibility.

Promoting variety and shaping the market will ensure growth for existing local social care providers, will encourage new providers to Edinburgh and will create job opportunities for the local population. There will also be an increased demand for access to local accommodation, events and social activities – both community and tourism focussed.

Primarily Unpaid Carers of Adults and cared for people who cannot manage on their own due to frailty, illness, disability, or addiction’. Some people may have additional protective characteristics such as age, gender and race. People on low incomes.

 

 

Local social care staff, people who are unemployed, third sector provider organisations, local communities and local businesses.

Negative

Although replacement care for planned breaks are non-chargeable, some types of service which meet replacement care outcomes are chargeable. This may be viewed as unfair and disproportionate to those who have low incomes and who may be more likely to have ill health or poor social circumstances. These added factors could mean that those individuals require more access to emergency replacement care therefore paying for greater proportions.

Primarily Unpaid Carers of Adults and cared for people who cannot manage on their own due to frailty, illness, disability, or addiction’. People on low incomes, particularly women in middle age

Services associated with this Policy, whether in an advisory or supportive context, or through provision for replacement care arrangements, will be provided in the main by voluntary and/or private sector organisations, most of which are commissioned or purchased by the Partnership. All equality, human rights, environmental and sustainability issues are covered by the Contractual or Framework Agreements, good practice guidance or the contracted terms and conditions. Where it is required continued oversight, monitoring and assured sustainability will be provided by the Partnership. Children’s rights are generally not applicable within the scope of this IIA. Where children/ young people are within scope, they too will be covered as above.

This will be explored as part of a communication strategy on completion of further work as a result of the Policy, e.g., procedure or user guidance. This will involve collaborative planning with third sector partners to ensure a wide range of communication tools, including easy read, alternative language options and online access to information.

Audience group Proposed communications channels Responsible Communications assets to be produced to support activity Proposed frequency
EIJB Development session with the EIJB Programme team
  • Communications plan (working draft)
  • Draft reactive lines ahead of 18 May
  • EIJB Development session
TBC
Board meeting updates Programme team
  • Reactive lines to anticipate media interest
  • Internal communications following the meeting, closely aligned to strategic objectives
June 2021, October 2021 and as requested
Colleagues Colleague News Communications team Regular briefings in newsletter to update colleagues on consultation, key decisions, programme purpose etc Monthly (minimum) and also as required following key milestones
Project specific detailed engagement and consultation with staff Programme team NA As required
Webpage updates Communications team Regular updates on progress – such as key dates/decisions / activity Bi-monthly
Other external stakeholders Formal meetings Programme team
  • Slide packs and reports as required
  • Attendance at forums on request
As required
Board attendance Programme team
  • Slide packs and reports as required
  • Attendance at forums on request
As required
Formal reports and returns Programme team
  • Slide packs and reports as required
  • Attendance at forums on request
As required
Attendance at CEC and NHSL corporate management team Programme team
  • Slide packs and reports as required
  • Attendance at forums on request
As required
Attendance and information reports fed to council and NHS committees Programme team
  • Slide packs and reports as required
  • Attendance at forums on request
As required
Resident, family and patient updates Programme team / RRT / CH managers Media channels, webpage, direct contact (generic email address for enquiries) As required
Care Inspectorate updates Programme team / RRT
  • Slide packs and reports as required
  • Attendance at forums on request
  • Direct contact
As required
Media Reactive media response Communications team Lines prepared in advance of key milestones (e.g. 22 June 2021 board / October board) As required depending on programme deliverables
Key message lines Communications team Lines to take prepared to cover key messages As required depending on programme deliverables
FAQ document Programme team
(with C&E team acting as a consultant)
FAQ to cover anticipated questions As required depending on programme deliverables
Social media response Communications team Reactive social media response prepared to enable EHSCP and CEC to respond to any noise on owned social media channels As required depending on programme deliverables

If yes, it is likely that a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) will be required and the impacts identified in the IIA should be included in this.

No.

If further evidence is required, please note how it will be gathered. If appropriate, mark this report as interim and submit updated final report once further evidence has been gathered.

N/A

Specific actions (as a result of the IIA which may include financial implications, mitigating actions and risks of cumulative impacts) Who will take them forward (name and job title Deadline for progressing Review date
Amendment to draft Policy to ensure definition of an Unpaid carer is consistently presented as it is within The Carers (Scotland) Act 2016. Robert Smith

Care and Support Manager

20/6/22 complete
Consideration to be given to protected Characteristics in the context of the Carers (Scotland) Act 2016 and the Partnership’s intention to support and encourage diversity to be reflected within the Policy. Robert Smith

Care and Support Manager

20/6/22 complete
Discussion to be held with Communities and families to make aware of the Policy, identify any further impacts not considered and discuss any collaborative work required. Emma Pemberton

Care and Support Manager

31/8/22 complete
Consideration to be given to individuals diagnosed with a terminal illness in the context of the Carers (Scotland) Act 2016 and the Partnership’s intention to prioritise people within this circumstance and offer appropriate supports posthumously. Robert Smith

Care and Support Manager

20/6/22 complete
Consideration to be given to Unpaid Carers right to access paid employment and volunteering separately to their caring role. Robert Smith

Care and Support Manager

31/7/22 complete
Consideration of individuals in transition, particularly highlighting the transition period from Children to Adult Services and transitioning to long term 24/7 Care. Robert Smith

Care and Support Manager

20/6/22 complete
Consideration of short breaks being taken together and how this can be built into the Policy. Robert Smith

Care and Support Manager

20/6/22 complete
Confirm charging arrangements for replacement care in an emergency situation. Emma Pemberton

Care and Support Manager

31/8/22 complete
Develop appropriate communication strategy on completion of further associated work around breaks from caring, linking in with third sector partners. Emma Pemberton

Care and Support Manager

ongoing
Update Policy to reflect feedback received at Carers Focus Group event facilitated by Care 4 Carers on 24th February 2023 (see page 18 for full feedback and actions) Emma Pemberton

Care and Support Manager

22/3/23 complete
Easy Read Version of Policy to be developed. Emma Pemberton

Care and Support Manager

On Policy sign off
Details to be included on publication for how to access the policy in alternative formats e.g., large print or translated. Emma Pemberton

Care and Support Manager

On Policy sign off
Share the feedback from the Carers Focus Group event facilitated by Care 4 Carers on 24th February 2023 (see page 18 for full feedback and actions), with the Carers Strategic Partnership Group and Planning and Commissioning Colleagues. Emma Pemberton

Care and Support Manager

22/3/23 complete

The current social care recruitment crisis is having a significant and expected long lasting affect on the provision of service, particularly ones which facilitate replacement care arrangements to enable carers to have a break. Whilst the approaches outlined in the policy are expected to ensure sustainable and diverse options and allows for some mitigation, the delivery of replacement care is reliant upon successful social care recruitment and retention.

The Policy has been developed as part of the work from the Partnership’s Transformation programme and will continue to be monitored within the wider programme. The impacts on different groups, including those with protected characteristics will be monitored through the Breaks from Caring Working Group.

Name: Tony Duncan

Date: 7th June 2023