This page was last updated on 24/8/2026
The South Tees Carers Partnership, formerly known as the South Tees Carers Forum, acts as an advisory body to the South Tees Joint Commissioning Group, supporting the delivery and development of the South Tees All Age Carers Strategy.
The partnership board meets quarterly bringing together partner organisations to work collaboratively, drawing on the views, lived experience and feedback of unpaid carers to inform its priorities, challenge practice, and drive improvements for unpaid carers across South Tees.
The South Tees Cares Partnership vision
To improve services, support, recognition and outcomes for unpaid carers of all ages and backgrounds in South Tees by working collaboratively and sharing expertise, learning and resources.
What does the Partnership do?
The Partnership brings together unpaid carers and partner organisations to:
- reflect carers’ lived experience
- highlight gaps, issues and emerging needs
- advise on priorities
- guide the co-production of actions and improvements
- share learning, expertise and resources
- establish task-and-finish groups when required
The Partnership is central to ensuring that carers’ voices help shape the delivery, performance and future development of the South Tees All Age Carers Strategy.
Who is involved?
- Representatives from organisations across the South Tees, including Middlesbrough Council, Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council and Integrated Care Board (who together form the South Tees Joint Commissioning Group for Carers Services in South Tees)
- carers and those representing carers
- voluntary and community sector organisations and infrastructure organisations (MVDA and Enhance)
- public health
- primary and acute care
- education
- business
- housing
Membership is flexible. Task-and-finish groups can bring in additional expertise from other organisations, depending on the particular strategy theme or area of work, alongside the lived experience of unpaid carers.
Partnership Board Chair
Directors of Adult Social Care, or an appropriate representative, from the two local authorities currently share the role of Partnership Board Chair from April 2026 until March 2027.
South Tees All Age Carers Strategy and Action Plan
The South Tees All Age Carers Strategy sets out priorities across the region for the identification, recognition and support of unpaid carers of all ages. Together with its action plan, it informs the commissioning of services by the South Tees Joint Commissioning Group and seeks to align wider partnership resources and expertise to meet the needs of carers.
Moving to the new 2027–2035 strategy
A new South Tees All Age Carers Strategy for 2027–2035 has been developed with unpaid carers and partner organisations across Middlesbrough, Redcar & Cleveland and the North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board, working through the South Tees Carers Partnership.
The new strategy will come into effect in 2027. Until then, the existing South Tees All Age Carers Strategy and Action Plan remain the framework for partnership work and commissioning.
The new strategy sets out five clear priorities:
1. Clear Information, Early Identification and Recognition
2. Flexible, Joined-Up Support at the Right Time
3. Physical Health and Emotional Wellbeing
4. Support That Gives Time Away from Caring
5. Help with Finances, Work and Education
The Partnership will continue to work with unpaid carers and partners during this transition and will support the implementation of the new strategy from 2027. Below are links to the existing strategy and action plan.