English: Caroline Jones asked, 'Who cares for the carers?' And many are struggling - two out of three don't get enough sleep, and there are too many suffering depression, and Age Cymru identifying wide variations in care. She said that we need to do more to support unpaid carers and enable young carers to combine caring with access to education and training. Angela Burns gave a heartfelt 'thank you' to carers in Wales without whose contribution our society would grind to a halt. She talked about the kindness of strangers and then she referred to a couple of cases, particularly a pupil not getting homework in on time, but the school not having any idea about her caring responsibility, and another young carer who was told to get rid of their dog when they were successfully otherwise rehoused. Jenny Rathbone talked about prudent healthcare, meaning that we must value our carers, and the need for long-term arrangements after a parent carer's death, and, key, that we need to work in co-production with carers. Janet Finch-Saunders praised young carers, but then highlighted the work of older carers, where many are disabled or with long-term health problems themselves, and many living in isolation and loneliness. She pointed out that councils may be acting unlawfully. She talked about lack of data on carers' assessments, the need for flexible and high-quality respite, and that investing in carers could save the health system £7.88 for each £1 spent. Dr Dai referred to statutory services being entirely dependent upon informal unpaid carers, about GP surgeries now being full of older people requiring care in the home and therefore the need to support their carers with information and support, and key there, again - the work of the voluntary sector in providing support. Mohammad Asghar talked about more people caring and caring for longer. He spoke movingly about his own personal experience with his wonderful wife, and I say that because I know her and she is wonderful. He talked about the well-being benefits of flexible high-quality respite and he said that we don't know how local authorities are using the funding they're receiving. Vikki Howells spoke of the need to avoid unintended consequences, about the increased burden on carers, young carers who don't classify themselves as carers, and the role of young carers champions in schools. Then, Huw Irranca-Davies, the Minister responding for the Government, said that the social services and well-being Act gave carers an equal right to support as the person they cared for, that all have the right to assessment and all local authorities must meet that requirement. He talked about recurring respite funding to local authorities, how he'd invited Children in Wales and the children's commissioner to join his ministerial group, and that from 2018-19, carers can be confident that they will receive financial support whilst studying. He talked about funding the development of carers ID cards, particularly relevant for teachers, doctors and pharmacists. I would point out that this was piloted successfully, with the support of the children's commissioner, by Barnardo's Flintshire. Many years ago, they came here, they presented on it and nothing happened. So, I hope that, this time, history doesn't repeat itself. Because as the Minister concluded, we cannot afford to sit back on the issue of supporting carers. Now, the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 Part 2 code of practice says that 'Fundamental to the whole approach and system is that practitioners co-produce with children, young people, carers and families, and with adults, carers, familiesso that people are equal partners in the design and delivery of their care. This will include determining what matters to them and the want to achieve. Local authorities must not make any judgments based on preconceptions of a person's circumstance.' And, again: 'People must be involved in the design and delivery of services'. However, I know that the Minister is familiar with the Age Alliance Wales winter newsletter - I think they subsequently met him to discuss it. Referring to the social services and well-being Act, they said that the realities arising from the Act are not meeting initial expectations; that there's an ongoing lack of advocacy provision; that 'what matters' conversations are not happening as anticipated; that local authority information advice services are still seen as problematic in many parts of Wales; that third sector representatives on regional partnership boards have reported feeling excluded; that the third sector is being seen as a bit player, with little or no strategic involvement and little input into programme planning; and that the needs of individuals still don't appear to be properly met in too many cases. Judicial review proceedings last month relating to the failure to assess and then meet the needs of a young autistic adult and to take full account of her parent carer's willingness and ability to meet need was settled prior to full hearing only because Flintshire council agreed to provide a formal apology and make a damages award. This case highlights the importance of comprehensive assessments of people in need of care and support and their carers, in accordance with the legislation. And although this case was settled before a full hearing, it nonetheless provides a valuable insight into how this legislation is intended to be applied, but how, still, local authorities are getting it often very wrong. Only yesterday, a Flintshire parent carer e-mailed me to say: 'As an autistic adult myself, I struggle to identify where lapses in duty are occurring.' She referred to her own three children, two of whom are already diagnosed on the spectrum, and concluded: 'As school seems determined that the issues that the boys struggle with are not related to their autism, I'm utterly lost in terms of how to secure the support that they need.' Another Flintshire parent carer e-mailed me during this debate, a parent of an autistic child with multiple unmet needs, and she said: 'I still haven't had a carer's assessment of my needs and my daughter's needs, despite my first requesting it in January 2014 and raising it repeatedly.' We know that the integrated autism strategy interim evaluation said that the top-down approach, rather than co-production, has stifled the way forward. I've got many other examples in many other counties. I could have gone on to Wrexham and Conwy and a range of different conditions where things are not working as the legislation intends, because too many people in power don't want to share that power and are cherry-picking from the guidance, the codes and the legislation. Unless the Welsh Government is prepared to actually rise to the box, stand and confront them, and make them acknowledge what this involves, with appropriate training and support when necessary, then stories like this, sadly, are going to continue.
Welsh: Gofynnodd Caroline Jones, 'Pwy sy'n gofalu am y gofalwyr?' Ac mae llawer yn ei chael hi'n anodd - nid yw dau o bob tri yn cael digon o gwsg, ac mae gormod yn dioddef o iselder, ac mae Age Cymru yn nodi amrywiadau eang o ran y gofal. Dywedodd fod angen inni wneud mwy i gefnogi gofalwyr di-dâl a galluogi gofalwyr ifanc i gyfuno gofalu ag addysg a hyfforddiant. Diolchodd Angela Burns o galon i ofalwyr yng Nghymru y byddai cymdeithas yn dod i stop heb eu cyfraniad. Soniodd am garedigrwydd dieithriaid ac yna cyfeiriodd at un neu ddau o achosion, yn enwedig disgybl nad oedd yn cyflwyno ei gwaith cartref yn brydlon, ond nad oedd gan yr ysgol unrhyw syniad am ei chyfrifoldeb gofalu, a gofalwr ifanc arall y dywedwyd wrthynt am gael gwared ar eu ci pan gawsant eu hailgartrefu'n llwyddiannus fel arall. Soniodd Jenny Rathbone am ofal iechyd darbodus, sy'n golygu bod yn rhaid inni werthfawrogi ein gofalwyr, a'r angen am drefniadau hirdymor ar ôl i riant gofalwr farw, ac yn allweddol, fod angen inni weithio ar gydgynhyrchu gyda gofalwyr. Canmolodd Janet Finch-Saunders ofalwyr ifanc, ond tynnodd sylw wedyn at waith gofalwyr hŷn, gyda llawer ohonynt yn anabl neu'n dioddef problemau iechyd hirdymor eu hunain, a llawer sy'n byw mewn amgylchiadau ynysig ac unig. Tynnodd sylw at y ffaith y gallai cynghorau fod yn gweithredu'n anghyfreithlon. Soniodd am y diffyg data ar asesiadau gofalwyr, yr angen am seibiant hyblyg ac o ansawdd uchel, ac y gallai buddsoddi mewn gofalwyr arbed £7.88 i'r system iechyd am bob £1 a werir. Cyfeiriodd Dr Dai at y ffaith bod gwasanaethau statudol yn llwyr ddibynnol ar ofalwyr di-dâl anffurfiol, fod meddygfeydd meddygon teulu bellach yn llawn o bobl hŷn sydd angen gofal yn y cartref a bod angen cefnogi eu gofalwyr gyda gwybodaeth a chymorth, ac yn allweddol eto - gwaith y sector gwirfoddol yn darparu cymorth. Soniodd Mohammad Asghar fod mwy o bobl yn gofalu ac yn gofalu am amser hwy. Siaradodd yn deimladwy am ei brofiad personol a'i wraig hyfryd, ac rwy'n dweud hynny oherwydd fy mod yn ei hadnabod ac mae hi'n hyfryd. Soniodd am fudd seibiant hyblyg o ansawdd uchel i lesiant a dywedodd nad ydym yn gwybod sut y mae awdurdodau lleol yn defnyddio'r arian y maent yn ei gael. Siaradodd Vikki Howells am yr angen i osgoi canlyniadau anfwriadol, am y baich ychwanegol ar ofalwyr, a gofalwyr ifanc nad ydynt yn galw eu hunain yn ofalwyr, a rôl hyrwyddwyr gofalwyr ifanc mewn ysgolion. Yna dywedodd Huw Irranca-Davies, y Gweinidog, wrth ymateb ar ran y Llywodraeth, fod y Ddeddf gwasanaethau cymdeithasol a llesiant wedi rhoi hawl i ofalwyr sy'n gyfartal â'r hawl sydd gan yr unigolyn yn eu gofal, fod gan bob un hawl i asesiad a rhaid i'r holl awdurdodau lleol ateb y gofyniad hwnnw. Soniodd am arian seibiant cylchol i awdurdodau lleol, sut yr oedd wedi gwahodd Plant yng Nghymru a'r comisiynydd plant i ymuno â'i grŵp gweinidogol, ac o 2018-19 ymlaen, y gall gofalwyr fod yn hyderus y byddant yn cael cymorth ariannol tra'n astudio. Soniodd am ariannu'r gwaith o ddatblygu cardiau adnabod i ofalwyr, sy'n arbennig o berthnasol i athrawon, meddygon a fferyllwyr. Hoffwn nodi bod hyn wedi ei dreialu'n llwyddiannus, gyda chefnogaeth y comisiynydd plant, gan Barnardo's sir y Fflint. Flynyddoedd lawer yn ôl, daethant yma, a rhoi cyflwyniad yn ei gylch ac ni ddigwyddodd dim. Felly, gobeithio, y tro hwn, nad yw hanes yn ailadrodd ei hun. Oherwydd fel y casglodd y Gweinidog, ni allwn eistedd yn ôl ar fater cefnogi gofalwyr. Nawr, dywed cod ymarfer Rhan 2 o Ddeddf Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol a Llesiant (Cymru) 2014 'Un peth sy'n hollbwysig i'r dull a'r system gyfan yw bod ymarferwyr yn cyd-gynhyrchu gyda phlant, pobl ifanc, gofalwyr a theuluoedd, a chydag oedolion, gofalwyr a theuluoedd i sicrhau bod pobl yn bartneriaid cyfartal yn y gwaith o gynllunio a darparu eu gofal. Bydd hyn yn cynnwys pennu'r hyn sy'n bwysig iddynt a'r canlyniadau lles y maent am eu cyflawni. Rhaid i awdurdodau lleol beidio â gwneud unrhyw benderfyniadau yn seiliedig ar ragdybiaethau ynglŷn ag amgylchiadau person.' Ac unwaith eto: 'Dylai pobl fod yn rhan o'r gwaith o gynllunio a gweithredu gwasanaethau'. Fodd bynnag, gwn fod y Gweinidog yn gyfarwydd â chylchlythyr y gaeaf Cynghrair Henoed Cymru - credaf eu bod wedi cyfarfod ag ef wedyn i drafod y mater. Gan gyfeirio at y Ddeddf gwasanaethau cymdeithasol a llesiant, roeddent yn dweud nad yw'r gwirioneddau sy'n deillio o'r Ddeddf yn cyflawni'r disgwyliadau cychwynnol; fod yna ddiffyg parhaus yn y ddarpariaeth eiriolaeth; nad yw sgyrsiau 'beth sy'n bwysig' yn digwydd fel y rhagwelwyd; fod gwasanaethau cyngor a gwybodaeth awdurdodau lleol yn dal i gael eu gweld fel rhai problematig mewn sawl rhan o Gymru; fod cynrychiolwyr y trydydd sector ar fyrddau partneriaeth rhanbarthol yn nodi eu bod yn teimlo fel pe baent yn cael eu hallgáu; fod y trydydd sector yn cael eu gweld fel rhai sy'n chwarae rhan ymylol, heb fawr o gyfranogiad strategol os o gwbl a heb fawr o fewnbwn yn y broses o gynllunio rhaglen; a'i bod yn ymddangos bod anghenion unigolion yn dal heb eu diwallu mewn gormod o achosion. Yr unig reswm pam y setlwyd achos adolygiad barnwrol y mis diwethaf a oedd yn ymwneud â methiant i asesu a diwallu anghenion oedolyn ifanc awtistig ac i ystyried parodrwydd a gallu gofalwr ei rhiant i ddiwallu angen cyn cynnal gwrandawiad llawn oedd oherwydd bod Cyngor Sir y Fflint wedi cytuno i ddarparu ymddiheuriad ffurfiol a rhoi iawndal. Mae'r achos hwn yn tynnu sylw at bwysigrwydd asesiadau cynhwysfawr i bobl sydd angen gofal a chymorth a'u gofalwyr, yn unol â'r ddeddfwriaeth. Ac er i'r achos gael ei setlo cyn cynnal gwrandawiad llawn, mae'n darparu cipolwg gwerthfawr er hynny ar sut y bwriedir i'r ddeddfwriaeth hon gael ei chymhwyso, ond sut y mae awdurdodau lleol yn dal i wneud camgymeriadau mawr yn aml. Ddoe ddiwethaf, cefais e-bost gan riant sy'n gofalu a ddywedai hyn: Fel oedolyn awtistig fy hun, rwy'n cael trafferth i nodi pan na chyflawnir y ddyletswydd. Cyfeiriodd at ei thri o blant ei hun, ac mae dau ohonynt eisoes wedi cael diagnosis eu bod ar y sbectrwm, a daeth i'r casgliad: Gan fod yr ysgol i'w gweld yn benderfynol nad yw'r problemau y mae'r bechgyn yn cael trafferth â hwy yn gysylltiedig â'u hawtistiaeth, nid oes gennyf syniad sut i sicrhau'r cymorth sydd ei angen arnynt. Cefais e-bost gan riant arall sy'n gofalu yn sir y Fflint yn ystod y ddadl hon, rhiant plentyn awtistig gydag amryfal anghenion heb eu diwallu, ac roedd hi'n dweud hyn: Rwy'n dal heb gael asesiad gofalwr o fy anghenion ac anghenion fy merch, er fy mod wedi gofyn am un gyntaf ym mis Ionawr 2014 ac wedi codi'r mater dro ar ôl tro. Gwyddom fod y gwerthusiad dros dro o'r strategaeth awtistiaeth integredig wedi dweud bod y dull o'r brig i lawr, yn hytrach na chydgynhyrchu, wedi llesteirio'r ffordd ymlaen. Mae gennyf lawer o enghreifftiau eraill mewn llawer o siroedd eraill. Gallwn fod wedi mynd ymlaen i sôn am Wrecsam a Chonwy ac amrywiaeth o wahanol sefyllfaoedd lle nad yw pethau'n gweithio fel y bwriada'r ddeddfwriaeth iddynt wneud, oherwydd bod gormod o bobl mewn grym yn amharod i rannu'r pŵer hwnnw ac yn dewis a dethol o'r canllawiau, y codau a'r ddeddfwriaeth. Oni bai bod Llywodraeth Cymru yn barod i ddangos arweiniad a'u hwynebu, a gwneud iddynt gydnabod beth y mae hyn yn ei olygu, gyda hyfforddiant priodol a chymorth pan fo angen, mae straeon fel hyn yn mynd i barhau, yn anffodus.