Issue - meetings

Covid-19 has created a number of challenges in the care market, including rising costs around staffing and PPE; a changing profile of clients for bed-based care, with clients presenting with more complexity; and disruption to the self-funder market. A specific request has been received to provide financial support during the covid-19 crisis. This decision seeks approval for short term financial support in order to come to a planned and sustainable solution in the longer term. The request was considered in confidential session as it contained information relating to financial or business affairs.

RESOLVED: That Cabinet agree a package of immediate short-term financial support and to commit to ongoing negotiations with a view to reaching an overall conclusion by March 2021.

Covid-19 has created a number of challenges in the care market, including rising costs around staffing and PPE; a changing profile of clients for bed-based care, with clients presenting with more complexity; and disruption to the self-funder market. A specific request has been received to provide financial support during the covid-19 crisis. This decision seeks approval for short term financial support in order to come to a planned and sustainable solution in the longer term. The request was considered in confidential session as it contained information relating to financial or business affairs.

The Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care reported that one of the key corporate risks for adult social care was provider failure in the care market and covid-19 has impacted this considerably and it was very sad that clients had been lost to covid-19 and others had chosen not to come into the care setting. Care providers were operating below optimum capacity. The implications of provider failure were significant to the Council and under the Care Act 2014 the Council had to provide continuity of care to all clients in those settings which included self-funders of which there were a significant number in the market place. A provider was facing financial difficulties and had contacted the Council for short term help and officers were working hard to ensure that there were longer term sustainable options and a further report would be brought back to Cabinet in March.

RESOLVED: That Cabinet agree a package of immediate short-term financial support and to commit to ongoing negotiations with a view to reaching an overall conclusion by March 2021.