New measures have been announced by the government in the first plan of its kind for the social care sector as it faces “unprecedented challenges”.

Backed by an additional £112m from government, the social care winter preparedness plan aims to support social care users in residential, community and home settings, and the people who provide care, including unpaid carers.

Although winter plans are made each year within the NHS to deal with rising demand when temperatures fall, the social care plan is the first one for the social care sector.

The representative body for private and charitable care providers in Scotland has issued a statement welcoming the announcement.

Scottish Care praised a number of the commitments in the document but raised questions about whether funding in some areas would be sufficient.

"Any plan is only as effective as the commitment and resource to enable it to be enacted,” they said.

“Its success will be premised on true and meaningful partnership with social care providers at national and local levels.”

Last week the Health Secretary Jeane Freeman announced intensive care capacity built up to deal with the first wave of covid-19 would be retained over the coming months as part of the NHS winter plan.

As part of the social care plan, Scotland’s health boards are to receive £7m to invest in Nurse Director teams tasked with enhancing infection prevention and control in care settings.

£50m of the new funding has been allocated to meet additional costs incurred under restrictions on staff moving from one care setting to another, while a further £50m is set-aside for the continuation of the Social Care Staff Support Fund – a fund designed to ensure staff are paid their expected income when ill or self-isolating as a result of covid-19.

Questions have been raised previously about funding made available to social care during the pandemic, with some providers saying they had seen “virtually nothing of it”.

Daily reviews of covid symptoms in care home residents and staff, including temperature checks, are to be carried out to enable people to be tested at the first opportunity and so that pre-emptive infection control measures can be put in place, the plan states.

Last month the First Minister said increasing testing for care home staff, residents and visitors was “likely to be a priority” as overall testing capacity was ramped up across the country.

Weeks on, further advice and options to open up care home visiting to support more people to connect with their loved ones is still promised in the new plan, as well as the expansion of testing to include designated visitors to care homes “as soon as possible”.

The plan promises a website will soon go live to provide information and advice for families on visiting loved ones in care settings.

Up to £500,000 is being made available to all care homes to help residents to access digital devices as a means of getting support to help manage conditions from home or to connect with loved ones.

Earlier in the week the government announced the planned closure of social care PPE hubs was being postponed and in the information published today, assurances are given that NHS National Services Scotland will continue to provide free of charge top-up and emergency provision of PPE to ensure staff, unpaid carers, and social care personal assistants have the PPE they need until at least the end of March 2021.

A significant aim is to adopt a ‘home first’ approach, where Scots are supported to stay home or in a homely setting with maximum independence for as long as possible.

Speaking in the Scottish Parliament today the Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said: “The coronavirus pandemic presents unprecedented challenges for everyone this winter, particularly those who are already vulnerable.

“One in 20 people in Scotland are recipients of adult social care and their needs are diverse. We have made this central to our approach, ensuring we support and protect people while prioritising their mental health and well-being.

“This is the first time we have published an adult social care plan…It sets out what support will be available for people who receive social care and those who provide that care this winter, as well as addressing the impacts covid-19 has had on them and their families.

Ms Freeman added: “The new measures we are putting in place have been informed by the lessons we have learned so far, and the evidence paper published today outlines why these measures are necessary for winter.

“We will continue to take firm action to protect those who receive or provide social care, and adapt our guidance based on the latest scientific evidence and clinical advice.”

 

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