Ministerial Advisory Group for Unpaid Carers meeting: 16 March 2026

Kate Cubbage, Carers Alliance and Carers Trust Wales - Chair
Alyson Hoskins, ADSS Cymru
Dawn Bowden, Minister for Children and Social Care
Denise Moultrie, Welsh Government.
Trudy Heald, Welsh Government
Amanda Phillips, Welsh Government.
Suzanne Becquer-Moreno, Cardiff and Vale University Health Board
Rachel Wright, Betsi Cadwalader University Health Board
Kim Dolphin, Carers Officers Learning and Improvement Network 
Bobbie-Jo Haarhoff, Unpaid Carer representative 
Jayne Newman, Unpaid Carer Representative
Albie Sutton, Young Carers Advisory Board
Rob Simkins, Carers Wales
Jon Antoniazzi, Carers Alliance/ Marie Curie
David Watkins, Cwm Taff Morgannwg University Health Board
Valerie Billingham, Older People’s Commissioners Office
Nick Andrews, Swansea University
Dan Burrows, Cardiff University
Adam Frewen, Care Inspectorate Wales
Naomi Harper, Flintshire County Council 
Anna Bird, Hywel Dda University Health Board
Ffion Scott, Young Carers Advisory Board
Victoria Lloyd, Age Cymru
Myfanwy Moran, Head of Adult Services Newport
Kate Young, All Wales Forum  
Sean O'Neill, Children in Wales

In attendance

Lucy Hoddinot, Welsh Government 
Claire Nelson, Aneurin Bevan University Health Board

Apologies

Lou Bushell-Bauers, Care Inspectorate Wales
Hannah Williams, Social Care Wales
Rachel Williams, Parkinsons UK   
Naheed Ashraf, Aneurin Bevan University Health Board
Tanya Tye, Cwm Taff Morgannwg University Health Board
Josie Yuen, Public Health Wales 
Hannah Williams, Social Care

The Chair opened the meeting by welcoming attendees and noted apologies.

The Minister noted that this was her final meeting as Minister for Children and Social Care and she expressed her gratitude to the group for its commitment and insight. 

The Minister reflected on recent opportunities to engage directly with carers, including attending at the Carers’ Reception at Windsor Castle in February 2026 alongside representatives of unpaid carers from the group, and highlighted the signing of the Young Carers Covenant in November 2025 as a key milestone. 

Reference was made to the decision taken in November 2025 to extend the Short Breaks and Carers Support Fund to 2029, continuing to support unpaid carers with breaks and essential costs. The Minister commended the ongoing partnership work with Carers Wales, Carers Trust Wales and Age Cymru to deliver national programmes and strengthen recognition of carers. 

The Minister also noted concerns raised during the the Health and Social Care Committee inquiry in January 2026 about inconsistent access to support for unpaid carers and welcomed an upcoming update from ADSS Cymru on their work  to improve the quality and consistency of carers’ needs assessments. 

The Minister reported that local authorities had responded to the request made to their council leaders in December 2025 for information on their improvement plans on carer’s needs assessments and respite. Care Inspectorate Wales will follow up with Directors of Social Services in April 2026. 

The Minister was pleased to confirm the public consultation on the draft National Strategy for Unpaid Carers was underway and thanked the Steering Group for their work. Responsibility for final approval of the strategy will pass to the next Minister following the election. 

In closing, the Minister expressed her personal thanks to the group, drawing on her own experience of caring and reaffirming the importance of this area of work.

Alyson Hoskins reported that the Association of Directors of Social Services (ADSS) Cymru project board’s report was being reviewed prior to publication. it was anticipated that the publication of the report would take place after Easter. 

The report has a strong focuses on information advice and assistance and carer’s’ needs assessments. Alyson has met with  the group’s unpaid carer representatives as part of this process. 

Alyson noted that additional Welsh Government funding was allocated to produce a training video for practitioners undertaking carer’s needs assessments in Welsh and English.

The group received a progress update on delivery of the Unpaid Carers Delivery Plan 2025 to 2026, highlighting positive progress across all four strategic priorities. Advances were noted in improving recognition of unpaid carers, strengthening access to information, advice and carers’ needs assessments, expanding practical support such as short breaks and financial assistance, and enhancing support for carers in education and employment. The presentation emphasised the strong role of partnership working and lived experience in shaping delivery, while also acknowledging areas where further action is required. Next steps include a detailed review of the delivery plan, publication of an annual report in June, and use of the learning to inform the development of the new National Strategy for Unpaid Carers.

Members agreed on the importance of maintaining the momentum of all the positive actions undertaken into the pre-election period.

Action

• the annual report for 2025 to 2026 will be published as soon as possible following the election.  

Denise Moultrie noted that the consultation for the draft National Strategy for Unpaid Carers was live and will close on 13 April. Twenty seven responses have been received so far and consultation events are scheduled over the next two weeks. Engagement packs to deliver sessions to stakeholders are available.

Action

• members will receive engagement packs and information on consultation events.

Dan Burrows noted that funding has been secured from the National Institute for Health and Care Research for a new project, led by Professor Siobhan O’Dwyer, which will examine homicide and homicide ideation among unpaid carers and the people they care for. The study will explore typologies and contributing factors, including pressures and circumstances that may lead carers towards a crisis point.

The research aims to support recognition of the extreme challenges carers may face, and to inform professional practice, legislation and preventative measures. A Delphi study will be undertaken to help develop a practical tool outlining what professionals should do in homicide‑prevention scenarios. It was suggested this project was a world‑first in research and was due to begin later in the year.

Nick Andrew provided updates on developments in the wider community noting that A “Claim with Confidence” session was held on 9 March 2026 and a seminar on the language of short breaks took place on 10 March 2026. 

The Community of Practice session is scheduled for 11 May 2026 and colleagues from Bristol University will attend to present on information on unpaid carers’ support in relation to the Mental Health Act. The group was encouraged to propose additional items for agenda.

Anna Bird noted that West Wales Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS) has commissioned research on the hospital discharge process and a report will be available once finalised.

Lucy Hoddinhot updated the group on the work of the School Health Research Network, which is funded Welsh Government and delivered  in partnership with Public Health Wales and Cardiff University. The network supports policy development by building insight on how young people experience life in school, including through targeted questions for young carers. 

Phase 1 has brought together data on the amount of caring undertaken by young carers and how this effects their relationships and school life. Findings from this phase of the project are due to be published on 16 March.  Phase 2 of the project will involve the anonymised linking of young carer data, with health and educational outcomes, via the SAIL database. 

Action

• the group to receive the report when published

Kate Cubbage highlighted the Carers Trust Wales event held at the Senedd on 11 March 2026 to  mark Young Carers Action Day. During the event, the Minister met a group of young carers to hear first-hand about the issues that are most important to them. The event also showcased the work of the Carers Trust Wales Youth Council, who collaborated with an artist to create a piece of artwork reflecting the Youth Council’s Manifesto

Ffion Scott reflected on her experience of co‑chairing the event, which was based on this year’s Young Carers Action Day theme “Fair Future for All Young Carers”. Ffion expressed her thanks to all involved in both the actions leading up to and during the event.

Jon Antionazzi delivered a presentation which outlined the level of support received by unpaid carers that were supporting people receiving end‑of‑life care at home. Research highlighted that these unpaid carers were providing extensive domiciliary care, with 56% of unpaid carers feeling they were not getting the support they needed and 68% were not offered a carer’s needs assessment. 

It was noted that further support and training may be beneficial for those delivering carer’s needs assessments, specifically for carers providing end‑of‑life care. 

In addition, Jon believed there was little bereavement support for carers when the cared for person died at home. Jon referred to Scotland’s “Last Aid” model which provided practical advice for day‑to‑day end‑of‑life care tasks and suggested that Wales could benefit from a similar national programme

Action

• Jon to liaise with Carers Officers Learning and Improvement Network (COLIN) on how carer’s needs assessments can be used more effectively in this space
• subject to the continuation of the Ministerial Advisory group, further consideration of end‑of‑life care responsibilities and required support for unpaid carers will be added to the agenda for the next meeting

Confirmed all actions completed.

Bobbie Jo noted she had contacted the chair previously about a matter for the agenda. Kate apologised this had not been included on this occasion and confirmed she would follow up with Bobbie Jo following the meeting.

Denise confirmed that the future composition and remit of the group would be determined once a new Minister is appointed. Members were thanked for the advice and support provided to the Minister. 

The minutes of the meeting will be circulated as standard practice and any future meeting arrangements would be communicated in due course.