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.

An Officer Decision Record was signed on the 16th March 2021 to extend the financial support to the market to the 31st March 2021 in line with the delegated decision noted above. This ODR is to grant relief for costs incurred during this period: the 1st February 2021 to the 31st March 2021. Supplier Relief Scheme:

As detailed within the Cabinet Report dated 5th November 2020 the Supplier Relief Scheme was extended to the 31st October 2020, then subsequently extended to the 31st March 2021 by the Director of Adults Health and Wellbeing after consultation with the Director of Corporate Resources and the Portfolio Holder for Adults Health and Wellbeing.

Following this, applications were accepted from Adult Social Care providers for additional costs incurred. In calculating the level of relief in relation to the additional costs the following principles have been established:

• Available to all Adult Social Care providers delivering care and support in Doncaster
• Support relates to actual expenditure incurred (evidenced by documentation or declaration) and therefore provides no basis for an ongoing fee increase
• The extent of additional workforce costs is beyond that which a provider would be expected to incur as part of their normal business continuity plans
• The relief must be proportionate, and sense checked
• Agency costs for COVID related sick (ensuring that these costs are net of any salary cost savings e.g. if absent staff have not been paid in full, the full cost of agency should not be claimable)
• SSP costs (where they cannot be recovered from Government and where the absence was covered by additional hours/agency)
• The relief relates to additional costs incurred and does not equate to compensation for lost profit (in line with PPN02_2020)

The providers (as set out in the attached Officer Decision Record) have applied to the council for additional costs they have incurred because of the Covid pandemic.

Relief covers the period 1st February 2021 to 31st March 2021 Provider Agreed Amount to be paid Total £38,683.93
Relief covers the periods 1st February 2021 to 31st March 2021 taking into account other schemes and grants that could be utilised to cover additional costs i.e. IPC grant and PPE clipper scheme.

There is no duplication between these claims and the claims processed in previous ODRs. Some providers have been paid part payment whilst awaiting further information and this concludes their claims.

To grant supplier relief for costs when applied for under the Supplier Relief Scheme to Adult Social Care providers for costs incurred between the 1st February 2021 to the 31st March 2021 in line with the Rule 16 report dated 5th November 2020 and the subsequent ODR signed 16th March 2021.

ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS CONSIDERED AND REJECTED

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