Social Services: Coronavirus
(asked on 5th March 2020) - View Source
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to support social care providers in managing the effect of covid-19 on people who need care; and if he will make a statement.
On 13 March 2020 [updated on 6 April 2020], the government published guidance for social or community care and residential settings which was cascaded across the United Kingdom by Public Health England and devolved authorities which can be found at the following link:
The guidance is tailored for providers of residential care, supported living and home care, in the event of a COVID-19 outbreak. The guidance sets out:
- How to maintain delivery of care in the event of an outbreak or widespread transmission of COVID-19; and
- What to do if care workers or individuals being cared for have symptoms of COVID-19.
On 15 April 2020 the government published ‘Coronavirus (COVID-19): adult social care action plan’ which can be read here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-adult-social-care-action-plan
The government also announced £2.9 billion funding to strengthen care for the vulnerable. This funding is part of the government’s commitment to ensure the National Health Service, social care system and other public services, have all the resources they need during the COVID-19 outbreak.