Agenda item

Report of the Strategic Director of Adult Care, Housing and Public Health

Recommendations:

That Cabinet approves:

1.    The adoption of the approach for each type of service as described in Option 1 with a total estimated cost of £970.1k

2.    That the position be reviewed after 12 weeks from 1 April 2020 or sooner if the government amends its guidance and any further requirements are brought back to Cabinet for decision.

3.    That the additional costs are funded from the Government grant referred to in the body of the report.

Consideration was given to a report which had a specific focus on the Adult Care Directorate’s second largest area of spend after Older People, with a gross budget of circa £31.6m per annum on supporting people with a Learning Disability and/or Autism, in the light of a letter from the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care in respect of the Covid-19 pandemic.

It was reported that Independent and Voluntary sector provider sustainability was a key driver in ensuring that the Adult Social Care system in Rotherham continued to support people with a Learning Disability and/or Autism through the impacts of Covid-19. The impact of the Governments social distancing measures had been significant on the provision of day opportunity services for people with a Learning Disability and/or Autism, with many of the services having to close or significantly reduce their offer.

The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Matt Hancock wrote to all local authorities on 19 March 2020 outlining the financial support available to support the response to Covid-19. The Council had been allocated two un-ringfenced grants totalling £16.2m to support the Council in meeting additional costs associated with its response to Covid-19. Within the grant letter were specific requirements to support Adult Social Care based on the guidance previously issued to local authority commissioners by the LGA, ADASS and the Care Provider Alliance to Adult Care commissioners.

Resolved:-

1.    That approval be given to the adoption of the approach for each type of service as described in Option 1 of the report, with a total estimated cost of £970.1k.

2.    That the position be reviewed after 12 weeks from 1 April 2020 or sooner if the government amends its guidance and any further requirements be brought back to Cabinet for decision.

3.    That the additional costs be funded from the Government grant referred to in the body of the report.