Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the Government plans to recognise and financially compensate Shared Lives carers for the additional care that they have provided to vulnerable adults during the covid-19 outbreak; and whether he plans to issue guidance to local authorities on that recognition and compensation.

We are grateful for everything that Shared Lives carers do and the compassion and dedication they show in providing care and support to thousands of people.

We understand that many Shared Lives carers have seen their usual pattern of providing care change as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and have shown flexibility and resilience in responding to this situation.

The £546 million extension of the Infection Control Fund which came into place in October contains £126.8 million in support for community care providers. This includes Shared Lives services which are providing Care Quality Commission-regulated personal care.

Our aim is to ensure carers feel supported the Department has worked with Shared Lives Plus and local government during the pandemic to ensure that local commissioners can take appropriate action to support Shared Lives carers during this time.