Decision details

The COVID-19 crisis has had a significant impact on the adult social care provider market. A Special Urgency Report to the Mayor dated 5th November 2020) resulted in certain recommendations being made which included the following:

• Agree an extension to the programme of financial support in response to the COVID 19 crisis. This extension will be from the 1st July 2020 to 31st October 2020 for adult social care providers who are commissioned by the Council to provide care services across the borough.

• As the impact of COVID 19 on care providers was likely to continue beyond 31st October the decision to extend any further financial support to the adult social care provider sector up to the 31st March 2021 was delegated to the Director of Adults Health and Wellbeing in consultation with the Director of Corporate Resources and the Portfolio Holder for Adults Health and Wellbeing. Subject to future direction from central government and the movement of the COVID-19 crisis, in line with any grant conditions.

To extend the financial support to the Adult Social Care provider market to the 31st March 2021 including the void payments and supplier relief scheme as outlined within the Rule 16 Special Urgency Report to the Mayor dated 5th November 2020.

To grant supplier relief for costs when applied for under the Supplier Relief Scheme to Adult Social Care providers for costs incurred between 1st July 2020 and 31st October 2020.

1. Not extend the financial relief to Adult Social Care providers – The Covid pandemic has continued past the extended financial support of the 31st October 2020 and therefore providers continue to experience additional costs in relation to the Covid response. Should the financial
support not be extended this may place some providers at financial risk and compromise their infection control measures leading to reduced quality of care and ongoing sustainability issues.

2. Grant relief in proportion to the amount of business contracted with the Council – The cost of infection control measures in a home has no direct relationship to the number of clients the Council commissions within the home. Infection control measures will differ depending on a number of factors such as the nature of provision and capacity to control infection, including the design of the building and ability to segregate staff and clients.

3. Grant a fixed sum per bed / visit / client – this is an approach that was considered and discounted as the council could not be assured that providers would not benefit inadvertently as described above, infection control measures are not determined purely by the number of clients.
Some LAs have provided 10% fee increases as an immediate response but this could create an issue in terms of the cost of care and ongoing debates about fees.

4. Cap the relief at a fixed sum per bed / visit /client - this approach would limit the Councils total exposure but is not a measure required at the outset (this may be reviewed depending on level of
future claims received).