Cyflwynwyd yr ymateb i ymgynghoriad y Pwyllgor Iechyd a Gofal Cymdeithasol ar Gwella mynediad at gymorth i ofalwyr di-dâl

This response was submitted to the Health and Social Care Committee consultation on Improving access to support for unpaid carers.

UC34: Ymateb gan:  Cyngor Dinas Casnewydd | Response from:  Newport City Council
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Senedd Enquiry Request 29/08/2025.

The Inquiry Request

The inquiry (Improving access to support for unpaid carers) is seeking evidence relating to provision of, and access to, respite care services for unpaid carers and improvements to statutory support to enable unpaid carers to sustain a life beyond caring as follows:

· The main barriers faced by unpaid carers in accessing the support they need; including any specific challenges for carers based on factors such as age, ethnicity or where they live;

Unpaid carers face a wide range of physical and systemic barriers that affect their health, wellbeing, financial stability, and ability to access support or engage in community social or learning activities. Flexible respite is critical to ensure that carers are able to continue caring alongside protecting their own wellbeing.

· Health & Wellbeing -NCC acknowledges there are inequalities in health with 60% of carers reporting poor health and long-term health conditions. In recognition of this, carers in Newport can apply for free or reduced cost gym membership with Newport Live aimed at protecting wellbeing. The council regularly promotes carer wellbeing via social media, events, Newport Carers Network and Carers Café.

· Diversity among carers is not always adequately reflected in policy or service design, leading to exclusion and unmet needs. LGBTQ+ carers and carers from ethnic minority backgrounds report significantly higher rates of mental health issues and lower recognition of these needs by healthcare professionals. There are also reported language barriers to accessing local information. The council employs community connectors that focus on ethnic minority communities. Resources are available in different languages, such as Urdu, Polish and Romanian. The team strive to engage with carers from various demographics, by engaging with multiple community groups.

· Social Isolation - Carers often feel lonely and disconnected due to the demands of their role. Isolation is especially pronounced among LGBTQ+ carers and those from mixed ethnic backgrounds, who are often socially and culturally excluded. Newport has a Carers Network to keep carers informed of the support available in an ever-changing commissioning landscape. The councils Community Connectors deliver a Carers Café to encourage participation, understanding and peer support. The Teams also do outreach at events and school roadshows and have resources printed in different languages.

· Financial Barriers - many unpaid carers are at increased risk of poverty due to reduced ability to work and lack of financial support. Newport has cost of living support and food resilience officers equipped with the knowledge to support carers’ income maximisation.

· The cost of caring, including travel, equipment, and lost income, adds to financial strain. Locally in Newport we have the Carers Support Fund to engage with carers and support with costs for essential items and services to enable carers to continue caring. There exists a strong Cost of Living partnership led by the LA which includes a number of utility companies and agencies that support carers including Riverside, LEAP and Warm Wales.

· Employment and Learning - NCC recognises the difficulty of balancing work and care responsibilities which can lead to job loss or reduced hours and income. Newport City Council has a Carers Policy supported with HR functions enabling staff to work flexibly. There is also a Newport Staff Carers Network to ensure staff have peer support mechanisms and access a range of information about benefits, grants and support available for their caring role.

· Access to services - Carers reportedly struggle to access health and social care for the person they care for, which directly affects their own wellbeing. The councils IAA Hub and community teams support thousands of carers every year to navigate H&SC routes.

· Equality - Carers under the act have the same rights as those they care for. Carers rights are promoted at events and via social media and carers bulletins.

· Choice – people may choose not to identify as a carer due to stigma or regarding caring as family duty. This prevents them from accessing many services.

· Recognition – carers often fail to recognise their unpaid caring status and as a result do not always seek out information to support them in their caring journey or access benefits such as Carers Allowance or council tax reductions. NCC Carers support teams provide information and advice on the caring role and associated benefits or grants.

· Communication - It is important for local authorities to ensure consistent messaging. Newport uses national celebrations such as Carers Week in June, Carers Rights Day in November and Young Carers Action Day to put on local events and social media messaging to encourage carers to seek support.

· Outreach to communities such as Roma Traveller communities, ethnic minority communities, asylum seekers, refugees, and migrants exists locally to engage with under-represented, underserved and marginalised groups who have their own challenges and barriers to accessing services. 

· Frontline staff need to understand the caring role and be equipped with the knowledge to confidently identify and support unpaid carers they encounter. Newport City Council delivers carer awareness training across all its departments and service areas. Staff have access to E Learning and resources.

· Young Carers Covenant – Signed by young carers, Cabinet members and Directors in 2024, the covenant guides policy shaping and the workforce to consider young carers in service delivery. A work plan is active to drive the covenant forward.

· The current availability of respite care across Wales, including levels of variation across regions.

Newport City Council is the lead on the Gwent regional commissioning of respite services with Bridging the Gap Gwent short breaks service. Pooling resources across local authority areas and using a national lead agency (NEWCIS) has strengthened the offer of flexible respite services and better understanding of the provider landscape and shared learning between councils.

· The extent to which the demand for carers support services is being assessed and addressed, and current levels of unmet needs.

· Regional work with the Carers Strategic Partnership Board examines local demand and capacity to deliver services, as well as sourcing grant funding.

· Local participation work gives carers a voice and opportunity to shape services and activities by engaging our local carers forum, groups and carer specific agencies. NCC has a Participation Strategy within Adult and Community Services and Prevention & Inclusion service areas to deliver against section 6 of the SSWB Act.

· Internal monitoringand monthly reporting of referral rates and outcomes, alongside waiting lists for carer IAA services or carers assessments.

· Understanding demand, capacity, transition and seamless referral pathways between services across all ages is key to commissioning services that carers of all ages can timely access. This includes young carers via Barnardos, parent carers and adult or older adult carers. This enables us to deliver against the aspirations of the national Carers Strategy.

· The role of Regional Partnership Boards in the provision of support for unpaid carers, and the effectiveness of current commissioning practices for services.

The Regional Partnership Board considers regional commissioning priorities against its available funding streams including Regional Integrated Care Fund. This strengthens commissioning functions and benefits from shared learning of best practice. It also avoids duplication and enables underspend resources to be considered locally.

· The actions required to improve the implementation of the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 provisions for unpaid carers (including Carers Assessments and support plans).

· Statutory Framework – Under the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014, Local authorities must publish their Population Needs Assessments every 5 years and estimate the number of unpaid carers in the area. According to the 2021 Census, there were approximately 16,604 unpaid carers in Newport Local Authority, which represents 11.4% of the population. Around 4,510 people were providing 50 or more hours of care per week, indicating a significant level of caring responsibility In Newport This data helps local authorities like Newport plan services, allocate resources, and identify areas of unmet need among carers and identify gaps in service provision.

· Carer’s Needs Assessments- Local authorities have a legal duty under Section 24 of the SSWB Act to offer CAs to anyone who appears to have support needs.  

· Locally carers services must be commissioned to undertake carers needs assessments.

· Under the act, councils must ensure carer's ability and willingness to continue caring.

· Section 6 of the Act ensures LA’s regard carers wishes, views, feelings and agree to care.

· Section 35 - LAs consider the impact of caring on wellbeing and ability to meet needs

· Section 37, LAs also must consider what support carers need to achieve personal outcomes, ensuring support plans or direct payments are in place.

· The Newport City Council Carers Delivery Plan reflects the framework laid out in the SSWB Act and the local workplan tasks the actions to ensure that the principles of the Act are embedded in practice.

· KPI’s set by Welsh Government around carers IAA and Assessments are internally monitored by our social care performance team.

· Resources are directed where necessary to ensure investment in carers support services including front door public facing carer IAA services, outreach, promotion of carer wellbeing, peer support and opportunities for flexible respite and short breaks.

· Locally IAA Resources are available and promoted widely, including a Carers Handbook, Emergency Guide to Planning, Carers Directory and Carers ID Cards under section 14 of the SSWB Act, providing accurate, up to date information and advice in an accessible format and language of choice.

· Understanding the demographics and local needs of the carer’s population is set out in the Councils Strategic Wellbeing Plans, Equalities Plan and Anti-Poverty Strategy.