Social Care
Hancock writes to ‘brilliant’ care workers
Health secretary Matt Hancock has published a letter to care workers to thank them for ‘going the extra mile’ during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
We need to be ready to cope with the next shock
When the opportunity to reflect comes, Ian Miller feels the conclusion may be reached that the UK was not well prepared for COVID-19.
Parking charges for social care and NHS workers suspended
On-street and pay and display car parking charges for social care and NHS workers will be suspended.
‘Social care needs you’, retired care workers told
Council chiefs urge retired care workers to return to work in order to boost an over-stretched social care workforce in the face of the ongoing pandemic.
We will do everything we can to save lives
The national COVID-19 emergency is seeing the very best of our councils and our workforces and we have a ‘unique and vital role to play’, says Martin Swales.
Now councils really are stripped to the core in a crisis
Local authorities are rising to the challenge with a range of short-term fixes that will carry the country through the crisis, says Heather Jameson – and she is 'immensely proud of the sector for the mammoth effort that is being made'.
Corbynism triumphs just as he leaves the political stage
The country has 'gone Corbynite', says Michael Burton, and the public has rediscovered its love of public sector workers. Not just the usual nurses and doctors but refuse workers, care staff, social workers, cleaners, and public health employees.
When this is all over we will be different
Interim chief operating officer at Cornwall Council, Tracie Langley, views her leadership role as developing mechanisms for quick and safe decision-making and providing clarity over how emergency processes can work.
Councils need a breathing space
Councils’ priorities are now focused on fighting coronavirus, says Ian Miller – and this urgently requires a Government-wide approach suspending policy and legislative initiatives for at least three months.
Firms say government needs to do more
Key firms providing services to councils have welcomed measures to mitigate the damaging effects of the Covid-19 crisis but said more needs to be done.
£3bn bed blocking coronavirus cash injection
Almost £3bn of the Government’s £5bn Covid-19 funding will go towards freeing up at least 15,000 English hospital beds by the end of next week, the Department of Health and Social Care has announced.
Let's have no shortsightedness about the scale of the COVID-19 challenge
In rising to the challenge thrust upon us by COVID-19 some of what we are likely to be tasked with will be incredibly hard and our own capacity and resilience will be hit hard too, says John O'Brien of London Councils.
Jenrick urges councils not to delay on coronavirus spending
Local government secretary Robert Jenrick this week urged council leaders not to put off decisions because of money in their response to the coronavirus pandemic.
There is still plenty for this Government to ‘get done’
The Budget package does not give councils any certainty over funding for the short to medium term, let alone the long term, and failed to address much-needed reforms to social care, says Solace spokesman for finance Martin Reeves.
Yorkshire council criticises Ofsted rating based on ‘short inspection visit’
A local authority in Yorkshire has said it is ‘disappointed’ by an Ofsted rating of its children’s social care services.
Budget 2020: £5bn emergency fund to fight coronavirus
The Government has promised to deliver a £5bn emergency fund to help manage the extra pressures the NHS and social care are facing in the wake of coronavirus.
Union estimates 500,000 post-Brexit care staffing gap
The UK could face a social care staffing gap of almost 500,000 workers due to the Government’s new immigration policy, the union representing care workers has warned.
Don’t just leave us to muddle through
Anita Charlesworth examines what the Government’s radical new immigration plans mean for social care – and says it ‘now needs to join up the dots between its policies’ and commit to adequately funding the sector.
Government must confront social care staffing crisis 'head on'
The Government should confront the social care staffing crisis head on if they are to pursue immigration reform, the director of research and economics at The Health Foundation charity has said.
Government warned of coronavirus impact on council resources
Council officers are working ‘round-the-clock’ in the battle against the spread of COVID-19.