Agenda item

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

Recommendation:

1.    That the funding arrangements currently in place be extended for a further three months (backdated from 1st July 2020) until 30^th September 2020 and that the costs be funded from the government grant referred to within the report.

Consideration was given to a report which outlined a proposed approach to facilitate support to the Adult Social Care sector, with an extension of previous decisions and an addition in respect of proposed cash grants for Home Care and Support providers.

It was reported that the Council had been allocated two un-ringfenced grants totalling £16.2m from Government to support the Council in meeting additional costs associated with its response to Covid-19 and a subsequent ring-fenced grant through the Infection Control Fund of £3,008,676 specifically for Adult Social Care.

Within the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care’s grant letter issued on 19th March, 2020, 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. The Council responded to the requirements set out by the Secretary of State’s letter through Cabinet reports and delegated officer decisions to financially support the Adult Social Care market in Rotherham. However, those measures had been time limited and were due to expire on 30th June, 2020.

Lower numbers of reported Covid-19 infections and deaths had led the Government to reduce the threat level from 4 to 3 with the virus no longer judged to be “high or exponentially rising”. However, despite the welcome improvements nationally and locally in combatting the virus, this had not diminished the impacts on Adult Social Care providers who supported the most vulnerable people in society. The people supported were, in many cases, at high risk were they to contract Covid-19. In response to this, it was proposed to extend the financial support measures agreed by Cabinet on 11th May, 2020, and through previous delegated decisions to the Adult Social Care sector for a further 3 months period up until 30th September, 2020.

Resolved:

1.    That the funding arrangements currently in place be extended for a further three months (backdated from 1st July, 2020) until 30th September, 2020, and that the costs be funded from the Government grant referred to within the report:

i)    Care Homes for Older People

a)    Continue advance additional payments of £15k to each Older Peoples’ Care Home in Rotherham (a total cost of £495k)

b)    Continue provision of a £100k contingency fund for Adult Care to utilise should additional emergency funding be required for Older People’s Care Homes approved by Cabinet (11th May 2020).

ii)    Home Care and Support Services

c)    Continue advance additional payments of £15k for each contracted Home Care and Support provider (a total cost of £195k).

d)    Continue the approach of 100% payment of planned hours to contracted Home Care and Support providers until 30th September, 2020.

e)    Continue to cover the cost of suspended packages and the application of the 20% tolerance rule within the contract at 100% cost of planned care hours for the contracted Home Care and Support providers until the 30th September, 2020

f)      Continue provision of a £200k contingency fund for Adult Care to utilise should additional emergency funding be required for contracted Home Care and Support providers.

iii)   Learning Disability and/or Autism

g)    Continue to pay the providers for people with a Learning Disability/Autism additional costs as defined by Service area in the table at paragraph 3.5.4 until the 30th September, 2020.

h)    Continue the provision of a £100k contingency fund for Adult Care to utilise should additional emergency funding be required for contracted residential/supported living providers for people with a Learning Disability/Autism approved by Cabinet (11th May, 2020).

iv)   Review

i)      That the position be continually reviewed on a monthly basis during the 3-month period up to 30th September and that the Council will work with Adult Social Care providers to transition from these arrangements in accordance with PPN/04 20 Supplier Relief (Recovery & Transition).