The government will provide an extra £60 million to local
authorities to support the adult social care response to COVID-19
in January, Minister for Care has announced today.
The Adult Social Care - Omicron Support Fund is on top
of the £388 million infection control and testing fund announced
earlier in the year to prevent infections and provide testing in
the care sector.
As cases of Omicron rise rapidly around the country, the
additional £60 million will help protect both those who receive
care, the family and friends who support them, as well as the
adult social care workforce. Local authorities can use the
funding to support the sector and protect people from COVID-19
infection. This includes investing in improved ventilation,
increasing the use of Direct Payments - which are offered to
people with eligible social care needs so they have choice and
control over their care and support arrangements - or paying
for COVID-19 sickness and self-isolation pay for staff.
Minister for Care said:
“Protecting care staff and people who use social care services
continues to be a priority, especially as cases surge and Omicron
spreads rapidly around the country.
“Today’s extra funding will ensure that we continue to support
adult social care to keep people safe and prevent outbreaks. A
huge thank you goes out to care workers for all they are doing to
care for people and keep themselves and others safe this winter.
“I urge anyone who has yet to get a booster to come forward –
vaccines are our best defence against this virus so Get Boosted
Now.”
The government has taken action throughout the pandemic to
protect social care, including:
- Continuing to provide free PPE to protect against COVID-19 to
the adult social care sector;
- Providing regular asymptomatic COVID-19 testing; and
- Continuing to support care providers to make best use of
technology to help remote monitoring including making pulse
oximeters available to care homes that have less than the
recommended number of devices.
Care home guidance was changed recently to protect residents
further by allowing each resident to have three listed visitors
as well as an essential care giver, either a family member or
friend, who may visit the home to offer companionship or help
with care needs. People living in care homes are typically more
vulnerable to severe illnesses as a result of COVID-19, and
measures are in place to facilitate visiting while keeping care
home staff and residents safe. Visitors should receive a negative
lateral flow test result and report it on the day of their
visit.
