Hansard

In recognising the enormous contribution that carers and young carers make to society and to the Scottish economy through the considerable sums of money that they save in undertaking services that would otherwise fall to the state, social care and the national health service to provide, we very much welcome this debate on the implementation of the carers and young carers strategies in the second year of their development. The central focus of the carers strategy for 2010 to 2015 is to identify, assess and support carers in a consistent way, taking account of their personal circumstances. I welcome the minister’s progress report this afternoon.

In the few minutes at my disposal, I shall focus largely on young carers in the north-east of Scotland. However, I first highlight the concern that has been expressed to me by the Princess Royal Trust for Carers that the outcomes sought in the strategy for adult carers are not always being achieved in reality, with disparity across the country, from local authority to local authority and even within local authorities, in getting support for carers and cared-for people.

In common with other political parties, we fully support the integration of health and social care services. The Government’s recently renewed focus on delayed discharge and its commitment to ensure that, from next year, at least 20 per cent of the change fund spend for older people’s services will be dedicated to supporting carers to continue caring for older people are very welcome. Nevertheless, there is real concern that caring families might feel pressurised to get relatives home before effective support is in place. We need to know that the Government will ensure that a shift takes place from acute care to community settings and that that will be evaluated properly.

Discharge with inadequate home care can lead to early readmission, which is demoralising for patients and costly for the NHS—I experienced that with an elderly relative a few years back. More focus is needed on older couples who look after each other, who often have little or no contact with the statutory services and are becoming increasingly frail. With proper support, such people can remain at home for longer and avoid unplanned admission to hospital or care homes. Emergency planning should be in place to ensure continuity of care for a cared-for person should their unpaid carer become ill or die. I welcome the proposals that the minister described on that.

Access to respite is another important issue for carers. As we have heard, the concern is that some local authorities might cut back on that as resources become tightly stretched. I was encouraged to hear the minister’s acknowledgement of that concern and his on-going commitment to short breaks for families and carers, which chimes with our manifesto commitment.

Particular issues affect groups that support individuals who are affected by alcohol or substance abuse. Many young carers and kinship carers fall into that category.

That brings me to the Voluntary Service Aberdeen young carers project, which works in the city of Aberdeen and in Aberdeenshire. VSA began identifying and supporting young carers 11 years ago and has continued to develop that support. It has a hub that is known as its chill-out zone in the heart of the city, where a variety of identified needs can be met in one setting. There, young carers can let their hair down, meet their friends and chat about their problems and frustrations over a cup of tea or a can of juice. They get peace to do their homework and access to computers, which they need but which might not be available at home. On occasions, they even have the chance to get much-needed sleep.

To raise awareness of young carers and the issues that affect them, the VSA project has worked directly with pupils in the school setting to deliver a personal and social education lesson, which has been developed and evaluated in a couple of local academies and has already identified previously unknown young carers. Other schools are interested and it is hoped that the PSE session will eventually be delivered to first and second-year pupils in every academy in Aberdeen.

Direct advocacy support is given in a variety of situations, which include dealing with education, health, family and social services, to ensure that the young carer has a voice and is listened to and involved in all support plans. Homework-cum-respite groups are run weekly to support primary and secondary-age carers, who are helped by a part-time education support worker.

A part-time male support worker acts as a role model and supports all young carers. That has resulted in male young carers seeking advice and support, and the number of them who are involved in the project has increased. Another part-time worker works with 17-year-old carers to plan for the continuing support that they might need as young adults. A pilot substance misuse post is in place to target children and young people who are carers as a result of parental substance misuse—it is hoped that the pilot will be developed. Group work, one-to-one support and partnership working with community groups, social work trainees, the local authority and the NHS all take place. School holiday activities are provided, as are two respite breaks—one for older young carers at Easter and one for primary-age carers in the summer.

All that—it is a lot—is managed by Mary Drever of VSA, who has a dual role as manager and support worker and works tirelessly for her young carers. Her working team is small, but it provides a variety of services to meet needs. Only one post is full time.

The strategy is working very well in Aberdeen city, and enormous strides have been made since I first met Mary Drever seven years ago and brought a group of her young carers to visit the Parliament. Young carers from Aberdeen have also visited at least two young carers festivals; I welcome the Government’s continued commitment to funding for the festival. There are still issues with equity of provision in rural Aberdeenshire and still more support is needed, but it is so far, so good in the north-east.

As far as I can gather, the young carers strategy appears to be working better than the strategy for older carers. The Government must set out how it aims to fulfil its vision for all carers. We are encouraged that progress is gradually being made, but there is still a great deal to do.

I move amendment S4M-01399.1, to insert at end:

“; however acknowledges that this is a work in progress, and calls on the Scottish Government to put carers ahead of targets by clarifying how it will achieve the vision and outcomes contained in the strategy.”

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