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Welcome to the NAG and SOPO newsletter for 5 June 2020. Feel free to circulate to your colleagues.
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Supply of PPE for schools
The Department for Education have updated PPE guidance for schools and early years settings clarifies the procedure schools and childcare providers should follow. If education or childcare settings cannot obtain the PPE they need, they should approach their local authority. Councils are being asked to support them to access local PPE markets and available stock locally, including through coordinating the redistribution of available supplies between settings according to priority needs.
If the local authority is not able to meet the PPE needs of education and childcare providers, they should approach their nearest local resilience forum (LRF) which will allocate stock if it is available once the needs of other vital services locally have been met. If neither the council or the LRF is able to respond to an education or childcare setting’s unmet urgent need for PPE, they will need to make their own judgement in line with their risk assessment as to whether it is safe to continue to operate.
Adult social care
Many councils remain concerned about the conditions the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has linked to the £600 million Infection Control Grant which mean the new money cannot be spent on PPE or deep cleaning, and claims cannot be made retrospectively. The LGA is continuing to press DHSC, particularly relating to its scope, the reporting requirements and the issues related to state aid. We are currently working with colleagues from DHSC, the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services and councils to explore the issues and how they might be managed.
A reminder that our briefing aims to assist councils with understanding the new grant and its requirements. If you have any particular concerns you wish to share with us please email coronavirus.enquiries@local.gov.uk.
Care Quality Commission case studies
The Care Quality Commission has published more than 300 case studies from the front line of the social care organisations they regulate, showing how health and care providers have innovated and adapted working practices to respond to the challenges of dealing with COVID-19. From small care agencies to council information and guidance, they are a celebration of the dedication and resourcefulness of the sector. The case studies will be updated regularly.
LGA briefing: Financial Pressures on Social Care
LGA and ADASS are continuing to press Government to meet the full costs of the social care COVID-19 response, including the provider market. LGA and ADASS commissioned Laing and Buisson, working with the Care Provider Alliance, to carry out an analysis of costs to independent providers. This information was shared with senior representatives from ADASS, LGA and the Association of Local Authority Treasurers before being submitted to Government on 9 May. The Minister is still considering her response, but we think it is helpful to share this information with local authorities now to help your response to the financial pressures facing adult social care.
Housing people who were rough sleeping and those at risk who have been accommodated due to COVID-19
Working with the LGA, Local Partnerships have produced this briefing to help councils tackle the next stage of supporting people who were rough sleeping, or at risk of it, in the COVID-19 pandemic. There is strong, all-round commitment not to return people to the streets and the briefing contains detailed information to help councils respond to the Minister for Rough Sleeping and Housing’s request for an initial move-on plan for each individual by 11 June. It gives practical advice on sourcing and funding accommodation and support for this vulnerable group
Local government workforce
As mentioned in Friday’s bulletin, the Government updated the rules and guidance in relation to the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme. The LGA’s guidance has been updated to reflect the changes outlined in various government documents. The Government states it will publish more guidance on 12 June but has set out some new provisions for ‘flexible furloughing’. This includes allowing the return of staff part time from 1 July and introducing a deadline of 30 June for any new names to be included on the list of staff furloughed by an employer. This means that the final date by which an employer can furlough an employee for the first time will be 10 June, so the current 3-week furlough period to be completed by 30 June.
Construction
The Construction Leadership Council (CLC) have published the Industry Recovery Plan for the UK Construction Sector. The CLC Industry Recovery Plan is a strategy to help drive the recovery of the construction sector and accelerate the process of industry adjusting to the new normal.
In non-coronavirus news…
Preparation for the expiry of your Private Finance Initiative (PFI) contract
The National Audit Office published a report on the expiry of PFI contracts. It highlights that public sector bodies risk underestimating the time, resources and complexity involved in managing the expiry process. Colleagues at Local Partnerships have produced guidance to help you manage this process successfully, increase your understanding of the contract expiry process and the timeframes for those considerations and outlines your role in the on-going management of the contract.
One of the main principles highlighted in the guidance is that it is never too soon to start thinking about what is required. In the first part of this decade over 50 operational PFI contracts are due to expire. This number rises to 200 contracts over the next 10 years.
Webinars/e-Learning
Procure to Pay Process Optimisation - Reducing Costs
9 June 2020
Civil Engineering Contractors Association (CECA) Webinar - How can local authorities unlock local construction and infrastructure projects?
9 June 2020
Contact Marie-Claude Hemming at marieclaudehemming@ceca.co.uk
PASS COVID-19 - Managing Change in your Contract webinar
11 June 2020
CIPFA Complex Procurements - Future of Development Agreements, Framework Agreements & Contract Modifications Post COVID-19
16 June 2020
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