Care leaders call on government to extend Covid relief funding

Care leaders from Care England, National Care Forum (NCF) and the Care Provider Alliance (CPA) have called on the government to extend its Covid relief funding due to expire at the end of this month.

The Covid relief funding was first introduced in May 2020 and extended in the autumn, providing over £546m of essential funding to the sector.

The rapid testing fund of £149m and the workforce capacity fund provided an additional £120m to support local authorities and social care providers to maintain safe staffing levels in accordance with the requirements set out in the government’s Winter Plan.

Care England has welcomed these funds as they have been a critical means of delivering safe and effective person centred care throughout the pandemic but worry that without the extension of these funds, the sector will struggle to deliver “vital” measures “in the fight” against coronavirus.

’We call on the government to immediately confirm the continuation of the funding'

Professor Martin Green, chief executive of Care England, said: “Unfortunately COVID-19 doesn’t end on 31 March, but many of the relief funds for the adult social care sector, the frontline, do. Without an extension to these relief funds, the sector will be extremely hard pushed to deliver rigorous testing or infection control measures that are so vital in the fight against this virus.

“Providers need to plan and whilst we really hope that extension funds will be put in place it is necessary to understand the way the sector works, in order that it can plan the best delivery of care possible which takes time, resources, certainty and budgeting.”

The NCF has welcomed the return of visiting in care homes this week but is calling on the government to ensure the continuation of funding is there to support the “testing and infection control requirements” for "homes to offer visiting.”

Vic Rayner, chief executive of the NCF said: “It is wonderful news visiting in care homes has returned.

“We call on the government to immediately confirm the continuation of the funding that is essential to support the testing and infection control requirements that underpin the ability for homes to offer visiting.

“This will enable families and providers to work together as true partners in care to ensure that the wonderful memories made this precious mothering Sunday do not quickly fade away as the end of the fiscal year draws near.

"Having reached this point, after many months of campaigning, of the government enabling visiting in care homes, we must not then face a cliff edge where this cannot be sustained.”

’It is essential to remain vigilant in the management of reducing the risk of transmission’

Kathy Roberts, chair of the CPA said: “Evidence available to the Care Provider Alliance indicates that less than a third of local authorities have declared their fee rates beyond 1st April. Those that have, are offering zero to two per cent uplifts which is far short of the increase to the national living wage (NLW), and the sums needed to adequately support social care providers."

Earlier this week the Chief Medical Officer, Prof. Chris Whitty warned of another surge in coronavirus cases in the UK being inevitable and could hit in late summer, despite the success of the country’s ongoing vaccine rollout. He stressed the need to remain vigilant.

“We echo the warning from Professor Whitty that it is essential to remain vigilant and consistent in the management of reducing the risk of transmission and call on the government to immediately extend the emergency funding available to the sector as a matter of urgency.

“The clock is ticking, and time is running out. It is vital that care providers have a clear understanding of what measures will be in place to support them to operate after the deadline of 31st March of the emergency funding arrangements," added Ms Roberts.