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“Public health, housing and social care teams will continue to work together to identify local solutions for rough sleepers most at risk, but homelessness services remain under huge pressure as a result of rising demand driven by a historic shortage of social housing.”

Responding to the publication of the Government’s Care Home Resilience Plan announced by the Health Secretary at the Downing Street briefing, Cllr Ian Hudspeth, Chairman of the Local Government Association’s Community Wellbeing Board, said: “This package of support is a recognition of councils’ vital leadership role in our national effort to combat coronavirus and protect our elderly and most vulnerable. “Social care is the frontline in the battle against this dreadful disease. As this plan makes clear, councils have a close relationship with their local care homes and are already working

"Protecting and supporting communities, including our most vulnerable, remains councils’ top priority. They are working closely alongside Public Health England, the NHS and others to assess risk, provide advice to communities and try to prevent this virus spreading further."

“Councils are doing everything in their power to provide high quality adult and social care support to adults of all ages in very difficult circumstances."

“Locally-led responses have proven to be the best way to tackle significant outbreaks, which this framework rightly emphasises."

"It is clear that the current high prevalence of COVID-19 has resulted in large numbers of close contacts being required to self-isolate, which is placing pressure on some council services due to staff shortages. Most councils have been able to keep services running but there is a concern that, if rates increase further, many will be forced to prioritise services that protect the most vulnerable in their communities."

“What is needed is a universal adoption of a labelling system which provides an instant ‘at-a-glance’ understanding of sugar content."

"These new statistics, revealing that we are still not reaching the WHO 95 per cent targets for vaccination coverage, are particularly concerning and also show considerable regional disparities."

“No community should miss out on the opportunity for better health and wellbeing, if we are to build back better from the pandemic.”

With mental health inequality in the spotlight, we respond to this recent report and the essential role councils play in improving their residents’ mental health and wellbeing.