Working with partners

Working with Partners

Working in partnership with equality colleagues in the other councils of Somerset, and with other public sector partners allows the council to work effectively, efficiently, avoiding duplication and share good practice.

The partnership will provide the lead for working together to coordinate a rolling programme of Equalities and Diversity work covering the District and County Councils in Somerset.

The aims of the group are:

Work collectively to develop a countywide approach to the equality agenda and therefore reduce duplication and increase efficiency
Promote equality of opportunity and develop actions that improve the quality of life for all people living in Somerset through our partnership working
Improving equality of access to services by identifying and removing barriers
Work towards eliminating discrimination and harassment and other prohibited conduct under the equality duty
Promote good relations and positive attitudes between the people of Somerset

Work being undertaken by the group currently and planned into 2012:

Areas of work	Achieved	Next steps
Qualitative research undertaken with Women's Equality Network Somerset Black Development Agency	A comprehensive report for each group identifying issues and concerns. Report offers recommendations	WENS 1. Developed an action plan to respond to the issues raised - working through these actions SBDA 1. In negotiations to set up a series of local forums
Faith Audit - audit of the faith groups in Somerset to highlight the community support activities and resources that Faith communities in Somerset currently offer, includes recommendations Somerset Faith Forum	Draft Audit presented December 2011	Meeting February 2012 to discuss and agree how we take forward
Qualitative research with the disabled community across the County	Completed consultation, reviewing results and what this tell us	Review, compare against local forums results and bring together collective actions that can be taken
Terence Higgins Trust	Met with Regional Manager and agreed basis for moving forward.	Developing Service Level Agreement
Somerset Lesbian Network	Funded redesign of website, development of publicity material and creation of second drop in centre in Taunton (currently have drop in, in Yeovil).	Working with SLN to receive quarterly monitoring reports from the drop in centres
Working with the Transgender Community Western Boys	Funding available	Making contact with the Western Boys
Working with the voluntary sector where they deliver services on behalf of the councils		Agreed to produce joint leaflet setting out requirements of the Act and organisations responsibility under the Act where they deliver a service on behalf of the council Agreed to facilitate a workshop to raise profile of this requirement of the Act
Joint approach to equality monitoring categories	Agreed approach and questions	Roll out across the councils

Multi Agency response to the Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment (GTAA)

Somerset Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment (GTAA)

In 2009, the Somerset Strategic Housing Partnership commissioned a county wide Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment (GTAA). Essentially the assessments' purpose is to assess the accommodation related needs of Gypsies and Travellers, including Travelling Showpeople in Somerset. The opportunity was also taken to look further into some of the issues facing the community including education and health, giving a more rounded and detailed understanding of the issues facing the community today.

A project team of equality officers from the councils, and other public sector organisations together with officers who have an involvement with the Gypsy and Travelling communities, have been working collectively to bring together one response to the GTAA. The draft implementation plan is currently out for consultation with the community and other interested parties.

A Monitoring Group of partners will be formed in April 2012 and will monitor the delivery of the agreed actions in the plan. Reports on progress will be made to the community through the district forums and community sub group.

Appraisal of Carer services in Somerset

Somerset County Council and NHS Somerset commissioned Peter Fletcher Associates (PFA) to undertake an appraisal of services for carers against the Somerset Multi-agency Carers Strategy. The review was undertaken between September 2009 and May 2010 and covered carers of all ages who where supporting all service user groups.
The population in Somerset is 530,000 of which there are over 50,000 carers within
Somerset providing varying levels of care. This represents approximately 9.43% of the population of Somerset. It is estimated only 7,000 of carers are known to statutory agencies in Somerset, which leaves a possible 43,000 unknown carers.

The older people population in Somerset is set to grow markedly in the future with a 35% projected increase in people with dementia over the next 10 years. Similarly the numbers of carers aged 85 plus providing unpaid care will increase by an average of 41%. Approximately 1,650 adults with learning disabilities are supported by the Somerset Adult Learning Disability Service of which approx 42% people remain at home with parents or carers.4 There are approximately 3,300 children under 18 years old living in Somerset who have been assessed as being "in need".

Research by Carers UK, suggests carers save the UK economy over £15,000 per carer each year. The cost of not supporting carers in Somerset would equate to over £750m per year to the wider economy. The cost of replacement residential care for the those carers in Somerset who provide more than 50 hours per week (20%) is estimated to be approximately £312m set against a 2009/10 budget of
approximately £6.47m in all carers services. Investing in carer services, even in the current financial climate makes sound financial sense and supports the "Putting People First" prevention agenda.

Rurality and low population density presents challenges for carers due to difficulties with transport, accessibility of local services, and employment opportunities, all of which will need to be taken into account when developing the best model to meet the future needs of carers in Somerset.

The Somerset Multi-agency Carers Strategy was developed following the introduction of the National Carers Strategy in June 2008. There are a number of national and local policy drivers which impacted on the appraisal.

For the full report please go to Appraisal of Carer services in Somerset