Government announces Coronavirus Winter Plan for Social Care

Late on Friday, the Department of Health and Social Care released its Coronavirus Adult Social Care Winter Plan for 2020/2021. The Plan sets out the government's ambitions for the sector in England and the challenges facing adult social care this winter, including a reference to extra care housing and supported living, and how digital technology can play a greater role.

However, the Plan primarily addresses the control of infection with an additional £546m to providers administered by councils, free PPE for CQC registered care providers, care home visiting arrangements, the appointment of a new Chief Nurse for Adult Social Care, a commitment to improve access to testing and testing flow, Local authorities to work with social care services to re-open safely, in particular, day services or respite services, or provide alternative arrangements, and requirement for all local authorities to confirm in writing to DHSC that they have in place their own winter plans, which have been developed with local partners and reflect existing planning, measures to tackle inequalities, local outbreak plans and the actions contained in the winter plan.

But with winter in mind, and considering DHSC is a signatory to the Health and Housing Memorandum of Understanding, Improving health and care through the home, it is surprising to note that there is no mention of other housing interventions and improvements to the home that have a health and social care dividend.  For example, the use of DFGs to supplement the delivery of care out of hospital and support longer term recovery, recuperation and rehabilitation of people with long term conditions with or without Covid-19. Or, the role of home improvement agencies and OTs to undetake home energy and/or safety checks this winter to ascertain the need for aids, adaptations or community equipment to ensure a home is warm, safe and accessible for the transfer of care.