Issue - meetings

Cabinet had before them a report setting out the Oxfordshire Carers' Strategy 2013 - 2016. This replaced the previous Carers' Strategy which ran from 2009 - 2012. It detailed Oxfordshire's commitment to the support of unpaid carers who support relatives, neighbours and friends across Oxfordshire.

The strategy is a joint commitment from Oxfordshire County Council and Oxfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group to continue and further develop their support to carers of all ages, along with their partners in the voluntary sector and other commissioned services. A period of consultation with carers and carers' services from November 2012 to March 2013 led to the drafting of the revised Carers' Strategy.

The Strategy is underpinned by an Implementation Plan which will support the delivery of the intentions laid out in the Strategy during it's lifetime to ensure good outcomes for carers.

Councillor Laura Price, Shadow Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care expressed her thanks for the time given by carers and welcomed the measures to increase identification of carers. She suggested that there was an omission with no mention of financial wellbeing that could undermine a lot of the other work outlined here.

Councillor Heathcoat introduced the contents of the report highlighting the demanding and diverse role of carers and the importance of valuing both the giver and receivers of care.

RESOLVED:                         to agree the Oxfordshire Carers' Strategy 2013 - 2016.