Coronavirus (COVID-19) Special Brief – 7 April 2020

Last week, we held a VODG member Keeping in touch call that focussed solely on the government's Job Retention Scheme. We were joined by Rebecca McGuirk from Trowers & Hamlins LLP who generously answered members' questions on the scheme, providing helpful insights on 'furloughing'. We are pleased to say that following members' requests for another session Rebecca will join us again on Thursday for a follow up meeting to answer further questions on the scheme. Please send any questions in advance to [email protected]. To register, please use the link below.

Also included below are details for the next VODG member Keeping in touch call, which will take place on Wednesday 15 April. These regular calls offer an opportunity for members to come together to share concerns, discuss issues, and offer solutions in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Further details and a link to register are also included below.

Please also note below in the key messages section, a request for insights into your current experiences of acquiring PPE supplies. Details of our engagement with the government and others around the issue of indemnity for social care providers are also provided. As ever, VODG is grateful for your contributions.

• VODG, alongside other infrastructure bodies, is, at present, closely involved in seeking clarity from the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) around the issue of indemnity for providers. In addition to a twice weekly call with the department, we now have an urgent call tomorrow (Wednesday) with DHSC representatives to discuss this issue in-depth. In our representations, VODG has outlined the significance and breadth of this issue, communicating that while significant risks arise from the lack of PPE available, relative to what is prescribed in the updated government guidance on infection control, this is not solely a PPE issue. Neither is it solely related to hospital discharge procedures, which has been the focus of DHSC. We have informed DHSC that without indemnity, social care providers are at significant risk and that there are short and long term financial, health and safety, HR and workforce implications, to name but a few. DHSC has advised it is actively planning an indemnity solution for social care. We are working to ensure DHSC understands the wider issues and implications in order to develop an appropriate solution. We have also emphasised the urgency required and will continue to push for a solution that acknowledges and addresses the whole range of issues.
• If you have any recent experiences in relation to the procurement of PPE, particularly concerning the four social care designated suppliers - Care Shop, Blue Leaf, Delivernet, and Countrywide - we would be interested to learn more about those experiences, specifically: - are you receiving deliveries of PPE? - have suppliers advised you on supply ahead of, and during, the approaching Bank Holiday weekend? - how many days PPE supplies do you have left? - could you cope with a 10% infection rate, if this was to arise over the Bank Holiday weekend? - have any of your supplies been requisitioned by the NHS or seized at the border? Please send through any insights (in confidence as always) to [email protected]
• As a member of the Care Provider Alliance, we continue to seek clarity around the data collection requirements of commissioners and are aware that, in additional to the Capacity Tracker, localised arrangements are being put in place by local authorities. We appreciate the data burden this is placing on providers and the resulting lack of coordination. To offer any insights on this issue, please email [email protected].
• Following the publication of the government's Coronavirus (COVID-19): admission and care of people in care homes guidance, a host of cross-sector questions on admission and support of people in care homes have been raised with the Department of Health and Social Care by the Care Provider Alliance. We are asking for direct feedback and for the points to be made public. Please continue to feed back to us by emailing [email protected] with any concerns or questions in response to the guidance.
• All feedback, please email [email protected]