Concerns have been aired as a service aimed at supporting Devon’s carers will be brought under the control of a council.
Procurement rules mean that Devon County Council was unable to extend its contract with Devon Carers, which provides support services and assessments for the county’s unpaid carers.
This has prompted the council to decide to take control of this service from October, but members of a scrutiny committee heard worries from carers about this change and added some of their own concerns.
“My concern about this being taken in-house is that decisions will be driven by pounds and not people,” said Jo Earlham, a member of the public, after delivering a heartfelt insight into her role as an unpaid carer for her husband.
“Nationally, unpaid carers save the country around £184 billion a year, so what assurances can you give us that this transition will genuinely support carers, and relieve rather than add to the strain they already carry?”
Senior council officers stressed the process was a “lift and shift” one, and that unpaid carers should not witness any degradation of service when the change happens, especially as funding for the service would remain the same.
They added that the voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector would still be used on a commission basis to ensure the best service to unpaid carers.
Devon Carers is a service provided by Devon-based charity Westbank Community Health and Care and is commissioned jointly by Devon County Council and the NHS Devon to provide support services and assessments to unpaid carers across Devon.
The meeting heard that Westbank, like other VCSE organisations, may still be commissioned to provide some support.
Councillor Jess Bailey (Independent, Otter Valley), who chairs the health and adult care scrutiny committee, stressed that she was “concerned about the transition” of the service from Devon Carers to the county council, and urged for a report that charted the first 100 days so that it was clear what had happened, whether any lessons had or were being learned, and how the service could be improved.
Linda Hughes, another member of the public, had also pushed for clarity on how the service’s performance would be measured on an ongoing basis.
“I want to know how the council, working with partners, intends to visibly demonstrate sustained improvement, and how will I and other carers know that improvements have taken place,” she asked the committee.
Ms Hughes, who said she had been a carer for three relatives and now volunteers for NHS England to help unpaid carers get the support they need, suggested that transparent and regularly published metrics would be important to ensure everyone knew how the service was performing.
The relocating of the unpaid carers service came as the scrutiny committee was analysing the outcome of a Care Quality Commission (CQC) report into the council’s adult services.
The CQC rated the council as “requires improvement” overall and concluded that, while people’s experiences were shaped by “strong person-centred values and proactive engagement”, support for unpaid carers remained an area “requiring sustained improvement.”
The CQC identified positive practice, including timely carers’ assessments, with 94 per cent completed within 28 days, but highlighted mixed views on the consistency and impact of support.
Councillor Richard Keeling (Liberal Democrat, Chudleigh & Teign Valley), the cabinet member for adult services, said the CQC report was a “significant milestone in Devon’s improvement journey”, but that it also provided an “important opportunity to reflect on our progress and the work that remains ahead”.
He noted that the council had been just one percentage point away from a ‘good’ rating from the care regulator.
“We welcome the recognition by the CQC of the improvement in areas, and the positive feedback of partnership working, leadership, and the commitment to improve outcomes,” he said.
“It is reassuring that significant progress has been made and we have strong foundations in place for further improvement.”
Cllr Keeling acknowledged the report showed that some areas needed further work, but that the council “accepts the findings and is committed to addressing them at pace”.
Councillor David Cox (Liberal Democrat, Teignbridge) noted the improvement.
“We were previously singled out in the past as a basket case, but we are moving in the right direction, and this is a worthy report which is very welcome,” he said.
“In the past, this committee has been forthright in its condemnation, and we should provide praise when things have gone right, and they have, so really well done to all those involved.”
Work on major Devon road ‘not been quick enough’
Appeal following extensive damage to primary school in Kenton
Free expert support launched for Devon businesses and entrepreneurs
Honiton gas upgrade work makes good progress
Help shape City Council’s customer standards
Next stage of Newtown Community Project to get underway
Matford Brook Academy Celebrates Successful First Ofsted Inspection
Young driver safety campaign returns
Recycle Week sees new flyers encouraging people to recycle more
Police welcome new students
Appeal for witnesses after serious A30 collision near Yarcombe
Sewage spill in Exmouth renews focus on resilience
Devon Truck Show gets a green light for 2027 in spite of concerns
Anger over ‘secret’ body that decides on speed limit reductions
Chief Constable to lead police force for a further two years
New figures highlight ongoing Meningitis B risk for students
