(1) That the proposals which would enable Trafford Council to progress the quality accreditation attainment be approved.

(2) That approval be given to the proposals to embed quality principles within commissioning practices across the Council, once the quality accreditation is attained.

The Council has already committed to membership of the GM Employers for Carers Consortium and this will help it to maximise the membership benefits. It believes that it is able to demonstrate that it can achieve level 2 of the Carer Confident Quality Mark and this will add to the benefits of working for Trafford Council. It will raise awareness of the issues for employees with caring responsibilities so that the Council can be supportive and retain its employees. It will allow the Council to hold its commissioned providers to account by improving conditions for their employees. This in turn will support more Trafford residents with caring responsibilities to maintain or gain employment and improve their financial and emotional wellbeing. The quality mark is a tangible way of demonstrating commitment to equality and diversity. By attracting unpaid carers into the workforce the Council is also improving the economic wellbeing of Trafford residents.

Not to complete the self-assessment process in order to achieve the Carer Confident Quality Mark; delay completing the assessment process; or source an alternative quality mark. Details of the implications of these options are set out at the conclusion of the report.