Information and guidance related to social care, including commissioning and supporting the provider market, and working collaboratively with health partners.
We are working as fast as we can to update this page with useful information for you. Please follow @LGAwellbeing for the latest updates and keep checking back.
This page holds key information and guidance related to social care, including commissioning and supporting the provider market, and working collaboratively with health partners.
If you can’t find what you are looking for, please register for our knowledge-hub site which has been set up by our joint LGA/ADASS Adult Social Care Hub - this holds a more extensive depository of information for each workstream and our daily adult social care updates.
- General information and Government Action Plan
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LGA – adult social care coronavirus winter plan 2020/21: briefing and gap analysis for councils
GOV.UK – adult social care: coronavirus winter plan 2020 to 2021
GOV.UK – overview of adult social care guidance on coronavirus
GOV.UK – guidance on getting tested
GOV.UK – support for care homes
GOV.UK – whole home testing for care home staff and residents fact sheet (pdf, 5 June 2020)
GOV.UK – extension of eligibility of whole care home testing (pdf, 5 June 2020)
LGA – Health and Wellbeing Board Chair touch base Debrief and moving into the next phase of COVID-19 (pdf, June 2020)
NHS.UK – COVID-19 prioritisation within community health services
ADASS: COVID-19 Responses and Guidance
Care Quality Commission: COVID-19 Information
Care Quality Commission: COVID-19 insight document (pdf, 20 May 2020)
- Hospital discharge
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Revised hospital discharge guidance - briefing for councils
This briefing summarises the key messages in the suite of documents published by Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) on 21 August 2020 to support the implementation of the revised discharge guidance.
Community health and care discharge and crisis care model: an investment in reablement
Supporting people at home (the ethos of Home First from hospital) and discharge to assess are approaches promoted through the COVID-19 Hospital Discharge Requirements first published in March 2020.
Support to systems on enhanced discharge arrangements
The LGA, working with the Better Care Support Team and Emergency Care Improvement Support Team, have developed a joint offer of support to local systems around the enhanced discharge arrangements. The offer covers briefings, advice, webinars and good practice guides as well as bespoke support to help a local system implement any aspects of the discharge arrangements, assess impact of implementation or address challenges. These slides show more detail and explain how to access the support.
The LGA has produced an advice note for local government finance leads and key others faced with the challenge of properly accounting for expenditure to be claimed against the national £1.3 billion allocation to clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) to support enhanced discharge arrangements during the COVID-19 pandemic, and ensuring that reimbursement claims are fully auditable, internally and externally. The note is intended to supplement rather than replace the NHSE&I guidance, frequently asked questions and responses, and model amendments/extensions to existing Section 75 arrangements posted on the Better Care Support Exchange website.
NHS.UK – COVID-19 Discharge hub
Better Care Exchange – Supported by the LGA and national partners, this exchange contains a wide range of advice, resources, discussion forums, FAQs, webinar recordings and links to guidance relating to the Covid-19 discharge. To request access, email England.bettercareexchange@nhs.net
- Carers
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ONS – Coronavirus and the impact on caring
GOV.UK – Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme: people receiving direct payments
GOV.UK – guidance on providing unpaid care
Carers Week – the rise in the number of unpaid carers during the coronavirus outbreak (pdf, June 2020)
Please see the folder titled 'Mental health, mental capacity, isolation and wellbeing' on the vulnerable groups page, and the mental health FAQs for more information
- Workforce
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COVID-19 social care staff wellbeing
The LGA and NHS England and Improvement have produced a comprehensive pack of wellbeing information and resources to help health and care managers support the wellbeing of staff.LGA – wellbeing for frontline staff
LGA – workforce and HR support
COVID-19 employment law FAQs (further details on the NHS and Social Care Life Assurance Scheme and what it means for councils, is now available)
Social Work Together campaign - council sign up
In partnership with Social Work England, Dfe and DHSC, the LGA is providing a platform to connect social workers offering their expertise to local employers. By registering through our online tool, councils can find social workers returning to work in their area.Care Workforce – access to the Care Workforce app (login required)
Join Social Care – new recruitment campaign from the Department of Health and Social Care
SCIE – providing care and support at home to people who have had COVID-19
CQC – supporting testing for coronavirus in the adult care sector
GOV.UK – bereavement resources for the social care workforce
GOV.UK – steps to take following the death of a person who worked in adult social care
GOV.UK – management of staff and exposed patients and residents in health and social care settings
GOV.UK – number of COVID-19 outbreaks in care homes: management information
GOV.UK – how to work safely in care homes
GOV.UK – health and wellbeing of the adult social care workforce
GOV.UK – guidance for coronavirus testing for frontline workers who are self isolating
GOV.UK– Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance for people receiving direct payments
GOV.UK – essential workers: apply for a coronavirus test
GOV.UK – guidance on the reuse of medicines in a care home or a hospice
NHS.UK – the NHS and Social Care Coronavirus Life Assurance Scheme 2020
- How to access the ASC provider daily data collection
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ASC Provider Data Collection and how councils can access the data
On the 17 April, a joint letter was issued from the Care Provider Alliance (CPA), Care Quality Commission (CQC), Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), NHS England and NHS Improvement (NHSE/I) asking all Registered Adult Social Care Providers to provide a daily data return designed to ensure that resources and activity is targeted effectively where they are needed. We are continuing to discuss with national partners how we continue to support councils manage their local care market responsibilities while meeting the national requirements for provider data and minimising the burden on provider organisations.
Data from Care Homes is collected through Capacity Tracker and can be viewed on a real time basis through a COVID-19 Business Continuity report. CQC started collecting data from domiciliary care at the beginning of April. We have now launched the COVID-19 Adult Social Care Tracker showing the impact that COVID-19 has had on Residential and Domiciliary Care, as reported by care providers. This tracker is designed to provide councils with the information they need to support care providers during this current emergency.
The ASC tracker will be updated daily with an extract of data from care homes as collected by Capacity Tracker, and data collected by CQC from domiciliary care providers. The tool is hosted on LG Inform and is free to use for approved users from councils using a secure sign-in.
Only approved users can get access to this information – if you need access please ask your DASS or suitable alternative to email adass.lga.covid@local.gov.uk detailing ‘Approved users for COVID-19 reports’ in the subject heading, and detailing who they would like to approve within their council for access to these reports. In addition to the approval you will also need to be registered with LG Inform.
Further information about the COVID-19 Adult Social Care Tracker and Capacity Tracker can be found at our Knowledge Hub site under the SITREPS folder
- Guidance on Care Act easements
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GOV.UK – ethical framework for adult social care
- Mental health, mental capacity, isolation and wellbeing
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Please see the folder titled 'Mental health, mental capacity, isolation and wellbeing on the vulnerable groups page, and the mental health FAQs
- Social care commissioners and providers
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Please see the below documents that will be of interest to commissioners and providers:
Funding sustainability
LGA – information and guidance for council adult social care commissioners
Infection control fund
LGA Briefing – Infection Control Fund Grant Conditions (29 May)
GOV.UK – Adult social care infection control fund: round 2
GOV.UK – adult social care infection control fund
GOV.UK – infection control fund Q&A
GOV.UK – Adult social care infection control fund - local authority circular (pdf, 22 May 2020)
GOV.UK – allocation table for councils, for the infection control fund for adult social care (pdf,18 May 2020)
Care homes
ADASS North West Branch – Care home infection control top tips
LGA/ADASS – Care home support plans: a national overview
LGA – Briefing on care homes support and resilience plans (pdf, May 2020)
GOV.UK – visiting care homes during coronavirus
GOV.UK – COVID-19: support for care homes
GOV.UK – apply for coronavirus tests for a care home
GOV.UK – whole home testing for care home staff and residents (pdf, updated July 27 2020)
GOV.UK – COVID-19: care home support package (pdf, 14 May 2020)
Better Care Fund - Care home Support Planning Returns Webinar
Home care
GOV.UK – supported living services during coronavirus
GOV.UK – COVID-19: provision of home care
Other/ general care and support sector
MHRA – purchasing medical devices for social care (pdf, 9 July 2020)
GOV.UK – guidance for people receiving direct payments
CQC – examples of how providers are responding to coronavirus
CQC – emergency support framework: what to expect
GOV.UK – reducing risk in adult social care
GOV and NHS – Insight for care: capacity tracker
Please also see the below pages and sites for further detail on commissioner and provider related issues:
LGA – adult social care commissioning practice resource
Care Provider Alliance – information for providers about COVID-19
- Local support for vulnerable people
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For more information on support for vulnerable people, please see the vulnerable groups page
- PPE (Personal protective equipment)
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GOV.UK – PPE: local contacts for care providers
Quality assurance of PPE and medical devices – top lines and Q&A (pdf, July 2020)
Department of Health and Social Care – letter to councils providing guidance and information on PPE for personal assistants (pdf, 18 May 2020)
GOV.UK – how to order emergency personal protective equipment
GOV.UK – how to work safely in care homes (with use of PPE)
GOV.UK – how to work safely in domiciliary care (with use of PPE)
GOV.UK – VAT zero rating for PPE
NHS.UK – Guidance on supply and use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
- People with a learning disability and/or autism
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Delivering safe, face-to-face adult day care – re-opening of day services
Human rights and the Government's response to COVID-19: the detention of young people who are autistic and/or have learning disabilities (pdf, June 2020)
GOV.UK – supporting disabled people through the coronavirus outbreak
GOV.UK – supporting adults with learning disabilities and autistic adults
GOV.UK – providing unpaid care to adults with learning disabilities and autistic adults
NHS.UK – legal guidance for mental health, learning disability and autism, and specialised commissioning services supporting people of all ages during the pandemic (pdf, 19 May 2020)
NHS.UK – mental health, learning disabilities and autism
The Challenging Behaviour Foundation – information and resources for families and carers
Learning Disability England – keeping informed and in touch during coronavirus
- Safeguarding
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COVID-19 safeguarding adults FAQs (pdf, 22 May 2020)
Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) Guidance during COVID-19
Surviving economic abuse: economic abuse and the coronavirus outbreak
Principle safeguarding network – safeguarding advice (pdf, 20 May 2020)
Guidance for adult social care staff in carrying out direct work with people remotely (pdf, 20 May 2020)
Safeguarding for volunteers: a one minute guide (pdf, 20 May 2020)
Please visit the COVID-19 vulnerable groups page for a range of resources on domestic abuse
- Digital
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Social Care Digital Innovation Accelerator (SCDIA)
Councils can apply for match funding through the SCDIA programme 2020/21 (deadline 24 April) 2020.Digital Social Care – Digital Guidance for Providers
Digital Social Care has set up a new helpline to assist adult social care providers to use technology during the COVID-19 outbreak. The helpline is open between 9am – 5pm Monday to Friday and will give providers practical advice to troubleshoot a problem or give 1-1 support. Commissioners are encouraged to share with local provider networks.COVID-19: rapid care technology deployment tool
This guide has been developed in collaboration with those leading care technology responses to COVID-19 in councils.NHSX and NHS Digital – internet connection deals for care homes (guidance is also available on choosing an internet connection for your care home and how to use digital services in your care home)
- Housing
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The Housing LIN Coronavirus Info Hub is split into three sections. The first contains practice briefings and top tips for commissioners and operators of specialist and supported housing on COVID-19. The second section signposts to relevant Government guidance for local authorities and housing providers on home, housing and homelessness, and related care and support, and NHS and public health guidance. The third section offers wider housing and care sector resources on tackling the pandemic.
For more information, please see our housing, planning and homelessness page.
Helplines for social care staff
- Samaritans helpline
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Samaritans have introduced a confidential emotional support line for social care staff that is free to access from 7.00am-11.00pm, seven days a week. You can speak to a trained Samaritans volunteer who can help with confidential listening and signposting to specific support you might find helpful. Call 0300 131 7000.
- Bereavement & Trauma Line
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There is a team of fully qualified and trained professionals ready to help you at the Bereavement & Trauma Line. This assistance is available from anywhere in the country and is provided by Hospice UK. Specialist counsellors and support workers are available to support all adult social care staff:
- who have experienced a bereavement
- whose wellbeing has been affected by witnessing traumatic deaths as part of their work
- to discuss any other anxiety or emotional issues they are experiencing as a result of the coronavirus epidemic.
All calls will be treated in the strictest of confidence and this will be explained to you when you call. This service is open to you and all adult social care staff and is available, seven days a week, between 8am and 8pm. You do not need a referral. Call 0300 303 4434.