Issue - meetings

The Board was presented with an update from the Strategic Director – People, on the current financial support available to care providers to support additional cost pressures related to COVID-19.

It was agreed that COVID-19 had been one of the greatest challenges for care providers nationally; in relation to ensuring the health and wellbeing of their residents and service users, and the additional financial impact of the virus.  It was noted that the levels of expenditure in this area were significant and essential to reduce the impact of the virus on vulnerable individuals, who relied on the providers to keep them safe and well. 

As Members were aware, it was important to note that the care market was fragile prior to the impact of COVID-19 with ongoing challenges in relation to sustainability and quality of care.

The report discussed the emergency funding made available to local government and how this had been utilised locally to ensure financial support was available to all contracted care providers within Halton. 

Members were presented with a number of options for consideration in relation to the provision of ongoing financial support to the sector during the Pandemic, as outlined in paragraph 3.10 of the report.  It was recommended that the Board agrees to Option 2 – for the Local Authority to fund only additional PPE costs, once the infection control grant funding ceased – for the reasons explained in the report.   

RESOLVED:  That the Executive Board

1)    notes the contents of the report; and

2)    agrees that Option 2 be carried in relation to the provision of ongoing financial support to the sector during the period of the Pandemic.