Decision details

Reason for the decision:

On 1 October 2020, the government wrote to Local Authorities announcing that the Adult Social Care Infection Control Fund (first introduced in May 2020) was being extended until 31 March 2021, with an extra £546m of funding.  This is a new grant with revised conditions from the original Infection Control Fund.

It is expected the grant will be fully spent on infection control measures (as outlined in the grant determination letter) by 31 March 2021. The guidance is clear that ‘spent’ means that expenditure has been incurred on or before 31 March.

The guidance states that local authorities should prioritise passing on the ‘per bed’/’per user’ allocation (as outlined below) to care homes and CQC-regulated community care providers (domiciliary care, extra care and supported living) in their geographical area.  It is expected, where possible, this will take no longer than 20 working days upon receipt of the funding in a local authority, subject to providers meeting the conditions as stated in the local authority circular (October 2020).

It is unclear at this time whether further Infection Control Funding will become available either before or post 31 March 2021, therefore as part of this decision it is proposed that the Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health, also agrees to accept any future additional Infection Control Funding should it become available which will be allocated in line with the guidance and terms and conditions issued by government.

The Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health agrees to:

(i)            ACCEPT the Infection Control Fund: round 2 grant, under the terms set out by the government;

(ii)          ACCEPT any future additional Infection Control Funding (should it become available) to be allocated in line with the guidance and terms and conditions issued by government;

(iii)         DELEGATE authority to the Corporate Director of Adult Social Care and Health, after consultation with the Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health and the Corporate Director for Finance, to finalise the terms of and confirm the amounts of the relevant payments as required; and

(iv)         DELEGATE authority to the Corporate Director of Adult Social Care and Health to take other relevant actions, including but not limited to entering into and finalising the terms of relevant contracts or other legal agreements, as necessary to implement the decision.