“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."
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 alongside NHS leaders and with people using social care services.
“Councils will be reviewing their existing plans to continue supporting them and ensure those who rely on and work in social care are able to stay safe and well.
“Other aspects of care homes which councils do not have direct control over, such as the long-term future of the care home market, need to be met by government.
“In particular, we know that some of these new measures will need ongoing funding and resources beyond what has already been made available to councils and providers. It is good news that government has committed to working with councils on future funding support, this needs to be made available as soon as possible to help meet increasing demand and costs.”