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Welcome to the NAG and SOPO newsletter for 9 October 2020. Feel free to circulate to your colleagues.
This newsletter is now delivered through our corporate service that handles all our various e-bulletins.
Manage or create a subscription - read our previous bulletins.
COVID stories
Social care service continuity
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) is carrying out a review of service continuity and social care markets, supported by the LGA and ADASS. The review asks councils to assess risks to service continuity arising from the state of the local provider market, to set out what contingency plans they have to mitigate these risks, to flag up any external or mutual support that would be helpful, and to share any good practice. The LGA and the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS) have engaged with this to ensure that the review is based on local self-assessment and that it does not make undue demands on time. The self-assessment questionnaire went to directors of adult social services on 1 October with a deadline for completion of 21 October. There will then be an opportunity for the LGA and ADASS teams to look at the results and provide a commentary before submission to DHSC. We have also developed a suite of resources, including FAQs to support councils in completing the self assessment questionnaire (SAQ). As a reminder, each council’s SAQ link is unique - please do not share with other councils as this risks your entry being overwritten. If you have any further queries or issues not addressed by the FAQs and webpage please contact adass.lga.covid@local.gov.uk.
Schools
The Department for Education has published updated guidance for the full opening of schools. Information updated includes - managing confirmed COVID-19 cases in schools, the framework for supporting home-to-school transport, the use of face covering and; changes to SEND legislation. The Department has also produced a short briefing that sets out what to do if a pupil is displaying symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19).
Glove guidance update
DHSC have apologised for the confusing communications in relation to glove use. The guidance is being updated and DHSC, Public Health England and care provider trade organisations are working together to provide a clear statement which will be released shortly. The new guidance will make it clear that vinyl gloves can be used in the majority of situations where gloves are needed. Only when staff are likely to come into contact with blood should they wear nitrile, neoprene or latex gloves.
Adult social care Winter Plan checklist
We have developed a summary of the actions for local authorities within the DHSC’s Winter Plan. This is in a format which enables local authorities to verify that actions are in place, ready for the assurance that has to be submitted to DHSC on 31 October. We are aware that some councils have already drawn up their own version of this, but we are making this available for those who may not yet have had time.
Non-COVID stories
Building safety fund
The Social Sector Grants element of the Building Safety Fund for the remediation of non-ACM cladding systems is now accepting claims from social sector housing providers. This is for funding equivalent to the value of remediation work which would otherwise be charged to leaseholders in those buildings. This grant funding is specifically for social sector providers whose remediation costs are not deemed unaffordable or a threat to financial viability (those with financial viability issues were asked to register with the fund prior to 31 July and are being worked with separately). The deadline for claims is 31 December 2020. Funding guidance and supporting documents has been published, and questions can be directed to BSFsocialsector@communities.gov.uk.
Setting the bar: a new competence regime for building a safer future
A blueprint to improve competence for those working on higher-risk buildings and drive culture change has been set out by a cross-industry group representing more than 150 organisations in the fire and built environment industries. Setting the bar is the second and final report of the Competence Steering Group [CSG] and is an update of its Interim Report, Raising the Bar, published in August 2019. The work was initiated by the recommendations in Dame Judith Hackitt’s review, Building a safer future. The proposed overarching system of competence set out in the report is made up of four key elements:
- a new competence committee sitting within the Building Safety Regulator
- a national suite of competence standards – including new sector-specific frameworks developed by 12 working groups
- arrangements for independent assessment and reassessment against the competence standards
- a mechanism to ensure that those assessing and certifying people against the standards have appropriate levels of oversight.
Government secures access for British business to £1.3 trillion of global procurement contracts
The Department for International Trade has announced that British businesses will be able to continue bidding for public sector contracts around the world worth over £1.3 trillion a year, following extensive engagement with WTO members. The agreement ensures UK businesses can compete fairly for overseas procurement contracts. This will benefit a range of British businesses from across the UK that work with international governments.
Training and skills
CIPS applied learning route to MCIPS
CIPS is currently taking applications for its online applied learning programme commencing in January 2021, successful completion delivers full Member of the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (MCIPS) status. An alternative to the examination route, participants are assessed via assignment and project work and the entire content is delivered virtually. The two programmes cover the syllabus for CIPS level 4 (Practitioner) and levels 5 and 6 (Advanced Practitioner). Assessment is via assignments and a project at Advanced Practitioner level Due to high demand, if you feel this route to your professional accreditation MCIPS is right for you, then please do not hesitate in emailing anita.hicks@cips.org
Commercial skills for councillors: LGA masterclasses
The LGA has developed two new masterclasses to support councillors as their local authorities refocus commercial activity that has been impacted by COVID-19.
Visit the Commercial skills for councillors web page for more information.
Webinars
Decarbonisation of transport webinars
In relation to the Decarbonising transport briefings, the LGA are hosting a webinar to accompany each briefing. See the full list of Decarbonisation of Transport webinars below:
SVP webinar: MSME Supplier Engagement and Bid Support, 13 October 2020
Social Value Portal (SVP) will be hosting a webinar with STAR Procurement aimed at helping Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) suppliers submit good Social Value bids.
SVP will be taking suppliers through the submission process, from navigating the Portal and submitting a bid through to the contract award
National Children and Adult Services Conference (NCASC), 4-6 November 2020
Aimed at local leaders of adults and children’s social care, this annual conference will take place online this year. The joint ADASS, ADCS and LGA event will include a range of keynote, sub-plenary and panel sessions delivered by prominent figures in the adult, children and education sectors, including ministers
How do councils undertake a green economic recovery? 18 November 2020
The LGA is organising a roundtable discussion that will bring together councils to consider how they can move forward with their economic recovery from COVID-19 in a green and sustainable way. The session will be facilitated by one of the LGA’s Economic Growth Advisers, Chris Parkhouse, Managing Director of Deyton Bell.
Unfortunately spaces are limited, so please email productivity@local.gov.uk if you would be interested in attending by COP 6 November 2020.
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