Cambridgeshire Carers Partnership Board

Terms of Reference
Purpose
The role of the Cambridgeshire Carers Partnership Board is to develop, co-ordinate and
monitor services and support delivered to carers across Cambridgeshire.
Reporting/Governance
The Carers Partnership Board is accountable to the Executive Director of Adult & Childrens
Services and the Senior Management team within the directorate as required, of which a
nominated link will attend. A Board representative will attend and report to the Adult Social
Care Forum and the Childrens Trust (check this right forum)
Board Group Members
The Partnership Board will be made up of 50% Carers Representatives (full and
corresponding) a range of relevant service providers or partner organisations and a limited
number of Council staff relevant to the client group.
Tasks
1. Ensure a local Carers Strategy is co-developed, co-produced and carried out.
2. Raise the profile of carers and ensure their needs are considered in relation to other
strategies and plans.
3. Members to act as ambassadors for Carers outside of the PB framework to ensure
carers views are communicated widely.
4. Ensure the CCC Working Together commitment is adhered to (document 2a of the
Board Members induction pack)
5. To ensure under-served groups are considered.
6. To monitor, assess and give feedback on, the value and efficacy of commissioned
services.
7. To review and monitor current and newly introduced legislation for Carers and evaluate
and feedback.
8. Ensure feedback is provided to carers on outcomes of their involvement and the work of
the PB

9. To create links which ensure transfer of relevant information between Carers

Partnership Board, Learning Disability Board, Physical Disability and Sensory
Impairment Partnership Board, Mental Health groups/forums, Older Peoples Partnership
Board and Children Groups; and to ensure the Cambridgeshire Memorandum of
Understanding between Statutory Directors for Childrens Services and Adult Social
Services is practised.

Membership
The Board will operate a two tier membership comprising:
1. Full members who attend and participate fully in Full Board meetings (Maximum of
25)
2. Corresponding members who do not attend meetings but receive all information and
minutes and are invited to participate and contribute via email / telephone etc.
To ensure the Board is representative a minimum of 50% (full and corresponding) will be
made up of Carer reps and be fully representative. In addition it will include a range of
relevant service providers or partner organisations and a limited number of Council staff
relevant to the client group. Members will remain on the board for a period of 1-3 years;
however, this can be increased in increments of 1 year, at the discretion of the board.

Roles and Responsibilities

Chairing
The Chair and the Vice Chair will be Carers and they will be elected by the Board. The
role of the Chair is to facilitate the smooth running of meetings and to ensure that the views
of all members are duly considered. Chairs will remain in office for a minimum of one year
(except in exceptional circumstances) and the maximum duration of office of Chair or Vice
Chair is three years. The Chair will hold responsibility for approving all reports and
presentations that are to be considered by the Board. Except in exceptional
circumstances, two meetings notice is required in resignation from the position of Chair or
Vice-Chair.
Vice Chair
The Vice Chair will provide support and back up to Chair and will take on the role and
responsibilities above in the absence of the Chair.
Secretary/Administrator
Cambridgeshire Alliance for Independent Living will provide Secretarial / Administrative
support.
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Voluntary and Statutory Organisation Reps

Are expected to attend all Full Board meetings and participate fully. If a member is unable
to attend a meeting they should send notification at the earliest opportunity and if possible
arrange for a substitute member to attend on their behalf.
Carer Representatives

Individual carers are invited to attend as Experts by Experience. These may be

carers of children, young people and/or adults. Carers bring their own awareness of
relevant issues and may have links with local Carer Networks, but are not invited as
formal representatives of their service area or locality but are representative of
diversity and carer roles.

Representatives from organisations that work with carers and represent their views
are also invited to attend as Carer Representatives

The Board values all Carer experience but acknowledges that appropriate and timely
experience is essential to the effective decision making of the Board. Therefore where a
substantive Carer has ceased their Caring role for whatever reason, the Carer may retain
their substantive position on the Board for a period of up to 12 months following the date
when their caring role ceased, or longer, at the discretion of the Board.

Frequency and agendas

Meetings will be held every two months.

Extraordinary meetings can be called by any of the group members, in consultation with
all other members with agreement by the Chair.

Any member of the group may suggest agenda items to the secretary at least 3 weeks
before each meeting.

Agendas will be sent out to members at least 1 week before each meeting; these will
also be available on the Cambridgeshire Alliance website.

Referral Onwards

Where relevant issues are raised at the Board which require detailed scrutiny, a Task
and Finish group will be convened, which will feed back to the Board on completion of
the task.

Where Carer issues arise, which would more appropriately be referred on for individual
resolution through the Complaints Process, or through presentation at another
specialist forum, Carers will be encouraged and supported to do so.
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Resources

Support will be provided by Cambridgeshire Alliance for Independent Living for the
Cambridgeshire Carers Partnership Board as follows:
o A room will be made available for all meetings.
o Refreshments will be provided.
o Carers will be reimbursed travel and out-of-pocket expenses (this will not affect
any benefits or tax).
o Carers on the board will receive support, guidance and training to develop their
role on the board.

Communications
Minutes and other relevant information will be publicised on the County Council and
Cambridgeshire Alliances website on which there is a dedicated Carers page.

Lifespan of the Group

The Terms of Reference of the Partnership Board will be reviewed on a three yearly
basis.

Any developments or changes to the Partnership Board will be reflected in the amended
Terms of Reference.

These Terms of Reference were adopted by the Board on 16th December 2014.
They will be due for review on 16th December 2017.