Councils in Scotland are still using apps to pay homecare staff ‘minute-by-minute’ despite the covid-19 crisis.

Although much of the focus has been on care homes in recent days, Scottish Care says homecare services already on a financial “knife edge” are in desperate need of support to stop them going bust because of the pandemic.

National Director Karen Hedge said while there were examples of good support from local health and social care partnerships, others are continuing with ‘business as usual’.

“Some areas are continuing to operate minute-by-minute billing for commissioned homecare visits through electronic call monitoring systems, with no tolerances allowed for late or extended visits. This results in financial penalties for the homecare provider.”

“This rigid approach does not take into account the need for flexibility in supporting individuals who may have lost their wider support networks due to current restrictions and therefore need additional time for support…

“It also fails to recognise the additional time required to operate stricter hygiene and infection control protocols, or to put on and remove PPE.”

The body, which represents third and independent sector care providers, is calling for direct deliveries of PPE to homecare agencies, following a similar move for care homes.

It was revealed last week that a quarter of all the deaths in Scotland had taken place in residential care.

healthandcare.scot has previously reported how councils were turning to electronic call monitoring systems in a bid to save money.

The technology, which makes care workers clock in and out of every home they visit, has been criticised because it stops staff spending more time with someone on compassionate grounds.

One care boss said there is “no recognition” of the extra time for things like allowing someone with dementia to choose their clothes.

At the time the Scottish Government said the use of technology in social care should be in line with the principles of person-centred care and fair work practices.

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