Question reference: S5W-31414
- Asked by: Johann Lamont, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
- Date lodged: 25 August 2020
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Current status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 7 September 2020
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it will take to ensure that funding for the social care sector to meet costs related to COVID-19 (a) reaches service users, (b) allows service users flexibility to manage care provision and (c) does not see care reduced during the pandemic.
Answer
Local Authorities and Integration Authorities have statutory responsibility to ensure people receive care and support to meet their needs. During the coronavirus pandemic the Scottish Government has set up a process to ensure Integration Authorities receive funding for additional costs resulting from the pandemic. This funding will help deliver the local mobilisation plans that set out Integration Joint Boards’ response to the pandemic, in keeping with the principles for Social Care Sustainability Payments. These principles have also been extended until the end of November, with appropriate tapering arrangements agreed.
COSLA sustainability principles https://www.cosla.gov.uk/news/may-2020
/social-care-sustainability-payments and guidance for commissioners https://www.cosla.gov.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0026/15569/
coslaguidanceforcommissionedservices170420.pdf are in place to guide practice and the use of this funding to ensure people continue to receive high quality support. To date £100m additional funding has been committed.
In addition, we worked with a number of partners to develop guidance: https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-
guidance-on-self-directed-support/ to support more flexible use of social care provision. This includes, for example, switching to a different self-directed support option during the pandemic to achieve the best support possible in the circumstances. People’s support may look different as it has not always been possible to continue to provide the same type or level of support. Such unavoidable changes may include a reduction in workforce capacity due to workers self-isolating, shielding or being unwell, or many group-based supports running at greatly reduced capacity due to physical distancing measures. We expect Integration authorities to clearly communicate any changes.
We are aware of some excellent, innovative practice in social care support during COVID-19, including explicit links to community support. We have however also been made aware of people’s support being stopped and poor communication. As part of work to remobilise services that have stopped and re-engage with the reform agenda, we are currently completing a piece of work to learn from practice during the pandemic. This will help to identify what kind of support would be helpful to enable positive innovation and practice to continue, and ensure people are well supported.