Social Services: Coronavirus
(asked on 1st July 2020) - View Source
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans the Government has for the safe re-starting of (a) respite care, (b) day centre and (c) other social care services that were stopped as a result of social distancing restrictions; what steps the Government has taken to communicate those plans to users of those social care services; and what guidance the Government is issuing to local authorities on the safe re-starting of those services.
We recognise the crucial role that day services and respite care plays both for unpaid carers and the people who use these services.
Decisions on the running and re-opening of day services are made on a local basis.
We have worked with the Social Care Institute for Excellence to publish guidance to help make decisions on restarting services and to provide quality care safely. The guidance was is for commissioners, providers, families and unpaid carers to ensure effective planning in opening and delivery of care in day services and is available at the following link:
https://www.scie.org.uk/care-providers/coronavirus-covid-19/day-care/safe-delivery
Public Health England has also developed an illustrated guide for the use of personal protective equipment in community and social care settings, which is available at the following link:
Local authorities and service providers should have maintained contact with carers and people who use their services throughout the lockdown. They will now be discussing arrangements to reintroduce care packages including where possible day care provision and respite breaks.