Decisions

LaingBuisson were commissioned by local government (LGA and ADASS) and worked with the Care Provider Alliance (CPA), to estimate the additional financial pressures on independent adult social care providers due to COVID-19. The summary findings of the report were released to Local Authorities early June; the additional cost to providers is estimated at £6.6billion, with nearly two thirds of that cost relating to PPE, representing the largest single financial pressure on providers.

The government has advised public bodies via the PPN 02_2020 Supplier Relief due to COVID19, to help ensure supplier sustainability through the COVID19 pandemic. This was further enhanced by the ADASS/LGA note circulated 8th April 2020.

The Director of Adults, Health & Wellbeing DASS wrote to providers 7th May setting out support available through the Supplier Relief Scheme and confirming that PPE costs incurred were within scope for reimbursement.
- The Adult Social Care sector is nationally recognised as a vulnerable market.
- The providers range from those that are locally or regionally based to multi-nationals but all providers applying through the scheme operate locally and have a high percentage of staff employed from within the borough.
- Care Homes are at the forefront of the epidemic and are facing increased costs related to infection control, including the extraordinary costs of PPE supplies.
- Most providers are heavily reliant on the Council for income.
- Essential requirement to sustain providers to ensure care needs of residents can be met once COVID19 is over.

The providers (as identified in the attached Officer Decision Record) have applied to the council for additional costs they have incurred as a result of COVID19. In calculating the level of relief in relation to the additional costs, the following principles have been established:-

- Available to all CQC registered Care Homes in Doncaster and Council commissioned Domiciliary Care providers, including Supported Living and Extra Care
- Support relates to actual expenditure incurred (evidenced by invoices/receipts) and therefore provides no basis for an ongoing fee increase
- PPE costs are outside the scope of costs which providers would be expected to incur as part of their normal business continuity plans and will not provide an ongoing business benefit beyond COVID
- 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
- 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 must be proportionate and sense checked – i.e. the usage reflects the operational requirements of the provider
- The relief relates to additional costs incurred and does not equate to compensation for lost profit (in line with PPN02_2020)

Relief covers the period March – 14th May 2020 for domiciliary care, supported living and extra care housing providers on the basis that the discretionary element of the Infection Control Fund PC funding can cover PPE costs in June.

See attached Officer Decision Record for full details.

To grant supplier relief for PPE when applied for under the SRS to Home Care Providers, Home Care and Extra Care Providers and Supported Living Providers up to the 14th May 2020 and Residential Care providers to the 30 June 2020.

To grant supplier relief for staff costs when applied for under the SRS to Residential Care Providers, Home Care and Extra Care Providers and Supported Living Providers up to the 14th May 2020.

Due to Covid 19 contractors have not been able to fulfil their contracted arrangement and therefore this has resulted in significant loss of income. Additionally, lockdown has prevented them from pursuing other ad hoc work.

To continue to pay Supplier Relief for July and August 2020 for those contractors who successfully applied for relief from April to June 2020, at the same rate agreed by Corporate Procurement and Finance.This is Tranche 2, £71,356 has already been approved for payment by ODR 2021005 to 13 firms. This is for an additional £13,846 for the final two firms who have already had payments agreed The usual total we would have paid over two months to these firms is £52,874