Carer Pathway Steering Group Terms of Reference

The Northern Trust Carer Pathway Steering Group membership includes carers, representatives from the community and voluntary sector and Trust staff from each operational division.

The focus of the steering group is to actively influence communication between the Trust and carers, promotion of carer assessments and provide advice to the Trust to ensure that services are accessible, appropriate and equitably provided for carers and the person they care for.

The terms of reference for the Carer Pathway Steering Group are:

• To ensure effective communication between carers and the Trust by developing a communication strategy in partnership with all stakeholders.
• Ensure effective engagement with carers in relation to services.
• To provide a forum to promote partnership between carers, carer representatives and the Trust.
• To raise the profile of carers.
• To share knowledge and experience and ensure carers are signposted as early as possible.
• Ensure priorities for carers in Northern Trust area are raised regionally.

The Group will only operate successfully if a balanced and coherent viewpoint is maintained through compromise and consensus building. Therefore, members of the group will:

• commit to open and honest debate involving the Trust, carers and supporting bodies
• be accommodating to views that are different from their own
• be open minded and consider the whole picture, not seeking to promote individual interests
• be willing and able to make the necessary decisions and recommendations, on behalf of the group to the Trust.
• as a representative, consult with others when providing feedback to the Trust
• to be champions for the work of the group

Membership

The Carer Pathway Steering Group will have membership that ensures that all key interests are represented.  It is particularly important that the group is carer led and will represent the views of carers.

The group will review its membership, as required, and may co-opt others as necessary.

Chairperson and Deputy Chair

The Chair of the group will ensure that all members are given the opportunity to express their views openly.  The Chair will also be responsible for ensuring that any verbal or written submissions made by the group reflect the views of all members.  In the event of the chair/chairperson being unavailable to attend a meeting, the Deputy will chair the meeting of the group.

The position of Chair and Deputy Chair will be reviewed annually.

Meetings

The Carer Pathway Steering Group will meet quarterly to ensure effective communication and that actions are completed within a timescale.