Decisions

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.

To grant supplier relief under the SRS for the three months period from 1 April to the 30 June 2020.

This decision based on documentary evidence provided by the providers and assessed by the SRS Panel consisting of Strategic Procurement, Financial Management and the Schools Transport Team.

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 20_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 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 PPN20_2020).

Relief covers the period March – 29th 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. In light of the LaingBuisson findings and revised grant circular for the Infection Control Fund confirming DHSC’s view that the funding is not intended to fund PPE pressures in care homes, claims from care homes for PPE in June will be need to considered through the supplier relief scheme, if no further funding has been made available from central government.

See attached Officer Decision Record for full details.

To grant supplier relief for PPE when applied for under the SRS to Residential Care Providers, Home Care and Extra Care Providers and Supported Living Providers.

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)

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.

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.

The individual applications below, detail the extent to which the initiative will seek to
make a positive impact in the community and ensure the most vulnerable people within
Doncaster Communities are supported in a safe and responsible way during the Covid 19 pandemic.
a. 68th Doncaster (Hatfield) Scout Group
Reference No: 68/DCF/WBCV19/Hat
Supported by: Councillor Curran
Cost £840.00
Enable the scout group continue to offer provision to children and young people in Hatfield whilst they are unable to raise income from weekly subs. Homebased tasks that allow young people to work towards and achieve their Scouting badges have been devised. Funding enables the postage of badges sent out, stationery and consumables along with the costs of educational and other online
services provided such as a magician will deliver a 30-minute Zoom session in July

To approve the following application for grant funding from the Doncaster Community Fund – Ward Member Budget

a. 68th Doncaster (Hatfield) Scout Group
Reference No: 68/DCF/WBCV19/Hat
Supported by: Councillor Curran
Cost £840.00

See attached ODR for details

To extend the residential care arrangements for 88 Travis Gardens beyond the current authorised period of 12 months, for a further period of 6 months pending the service being deregistered as a residential service and transformed into a Supported Living service.

This extension will enable:

The completion of necessary development of 88 Travis Gardens into 2 x 3 bed accommodation units, re-providing for the 6 people currently residing there (subject to building regulations and
financial approvals).

The appointment of a Registered Social Landlord (RSL) for 88 with 86 and 84 Travis Gardens (subject to final decision making and approval of plans and finance).

As part of a council-wide review of services, the decision was made to transfer the School Crossing Patrol Warden Service from Adults, Health and Well Being to Learning and Opportunities, due to its significant links to Doncaster Schools.
The School Crossing Patrol Service operates in alignment with the academic calendar, providing a crossing warden at those locations that meet the national criteria (calculated by the number of people crossing and the amount of vehicles passing). Many of these crossing locations are situated directly outside of, or in close proximity to, schools across Doncaster.
Given the strong links between the School Crossing Patrol Service and Doncaster Schools, and the close relationship many individual schools already have with their crossing warden, it was deemed an appropriate decision to transfer this service across to Learning and Opportunities, where the schools function is managed.
The current management of the School Crossing Service within the Community Safety Team forms a small part (approximately 20%) of a full time Community Safety Officer role. In order to facilitate the future management of the service within Learning and Opportunities, 20% of the Community Safety Officer salary budget has been requested to transfer alongside the warden roles. This equates to £9,430 per annum.

A joint decision has been made to transfer the School Crossing Patrol Warden Service from the Community Safety Team in Adults, Health and Well Being to Children and Young People Services in Learning and Opportunities

Doncaster Rape and Sexual Abuse Counselling Service (DRASACS) is an independent charity that has been helping victims of sexual violence since 1987. DRASACS is able to provide free support services for people who have experienced rape or sexual abuse; counselling and an Independent Sexual Violence Advocacy (ISVA) service which offers practical help and support.

Doncaster Council and Doncaster NHS CCG successfully secured additional funding to support DRASACS through a joint partnership approach with the grant to the charity being passported through a single route - a section76 agreement.

To approve the transfer of £165,960 under a section 76 funding arrangement between Doncaster Council and Doncaster CCG for the services of Doncaster Rape and Sexual Abuse Counselling Service (DRASACS).

The funding is made up as follows:

One-off grant of £68,440 to be funded from the Non Recurrent Better Care Fund Earmarked Reserve allocated to the Place Plan. (ODR AHWB.006.2020).

Grants of £27,520 and £45,000 as agreed in the Mayor’s budget report dated 5 March 2020 for the period 2020/21.

£25,000 Better Care Fund approved as part of Complex Lives (ODR AHWB.017.2019)

See attached officer decision record for full details

To approve the following application for grant funding from the Doncaster Community
Fund – Ward Member Budget
a. Rossington SMILE Reference No: 58/DCF/WBCV19/R&B
Supported by: Councillor Blake, Councillor Cooke, Councillor Cooper
Cost £500.00 (£166.66 x 3 Councillors)
b. Wheatley Park Baptist Church Parent and Toddler Group
Reference No: 65/DCF/WBCV19/WH&Int
Supported by: Councillor Kidd Cost £1200.00
c. Friends of the Crags and Shed Heads. The Crags
Reference No: 66/DCF/WBCV19/Con Supported by: Councillor Pearson Cost £1500.00
d. Intake Monday Club Reference No: 69/DCF/WBCV19/WH&Int
Supported by: Councillor Kidd Cost £590.45
e. Little Fishes Parent and Toddler Group- St Paul’s Church
Reference No: 70/DCF/WBCV19/WH&Int
Supported by: Councillor Kidd Cost £225.00
f. Mexborough Youth Club Reference No: 71/DCF/WBCV19/Mex
Supported by: Councillor Gibbons Cost £500.00

Further to the establishment of a ward Members Budget of upto £3k per Councillor (ODR No: CR/352/04/20,) a number of applications have been received and assessed in line with the application criteria and supported by the relevant ward Councillor (s).

The individual applications below, detail the extent to which the initiative will seek to make a positive impact in the community and ensure the most vulnerable people within Doncaster Communities are supported in a safe and responsible way during the Covid 19 pandemic.

a. Tickhill Community Connections
Reference No: 41/DCF/WBCV19/Ti&Wad
Supported by: Councillors Nigel Cannings & Martin Greenhalgh
Cost £2,400 (£1,200 x 2 Ward Councillors)

Essential items will be delivered to the vulnerable in the Tickhill area. The group will also provide regular phone calls to those socially isolated. Provide carepacks for children and young people identified as being in need. Establish a growing project within the community. Young people will be encouraged to grow food at home that they can share. Recipe book produced.

b. St Lawrence Church
Reference No: 42/DCF/WBCV19/Hat
Supported by: Councillors Derek Smith
Cost £1,000

Craft resources will be purchased to send out in the Messy Church delivered boxes. A Summer club will be promoted by 5 local schools and will resource families with activities through the 6 week holidays, each child will have a pack of items at the beginning of the summer, possibly including a t-shirt, logo bag and hat, as well as some craft materials for future activities

To approve the following application for grant funding from the Doncaster Community Fund – Ward Member Budget:

a. Tickhill Community Connections
Reference No: 41/DCF/WBCV19/Ti&Wad
Supported by: Councillors Nigel Cannings & Martin Greenhalgh
Cost £2,400 (£1,200 x 2 Ward Councillors)

b. St Lawrence Church
Reference No: 42/DCF/WBCV19/Hat
Supported by: Councillors Derek Smith
Cost £1,000
BOX