“As the focus shifts from hospitals to social care we need to do all we can to shield people in care homes and those receiving care in their own homes."
Responding to a Care England report on provider funding, Cllr Ian Hudspeth, Chairman of the Local Government Association’s Community Wellbeing Board, said:
“Social care is now the frontline in the fight against coronavirus and making sure older and disabled people are safe and continue to receive essential care and support is councils’ top priority, as is the safety of those who work with them.
“As the focus shifts from hospitals to social care we need to do all we can to shield people in care homes and those receiving care in their own homes.
“We recognise the challenges and additional costs that social care providers face in delivering services at this difficult time. Councils are already taking action to support providers in meeting the additional costs that they face locally and in managing cash flow challenges. Councils are also pressing government to try and secure much needed PPE for care providers and to ensure easy access to testing for residents of care homes, those supported in their own homes and care workers.
“Nobody can say for certain how this situation will develop and what further resources may be needed. The LGA/ADASS statement published earlier this month suggests that councils and providers will need to continue to work closely together to ensure that resources are available, to allow services to continue in this challenging environment.
“The £3.2 billion funding that government has made available to councils to help with additional costs arising as a result of COVID-19 is much needed. However, there are many and growing calls on this funding across the full range of council services and additional resources will be needed to allow councils to continue to support social care and other services.”