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Social care – charging for care and support
Last week the Department of Health and Social Care released information for councils about the social care charging arrangements for 2024 to 2025. It includes details about: capital limits, personal expenses allowance, minimum income guarantee and Savings Credit.
For the financial year 2024 to 2025, the:
- capital limits remain at their current level (lower capital limit £14,250 and upper capital limit £23,250)
- personal expenses allowance (PEA) for council-supported care home residents increases in line with inflation
- minimum income guarantee (MIG) for people receiving local authority-arranged care and support other than in a care home increases in line with inflation
Savings Credit disregards increase in line with inflation. These rates apply to individuals receiving care in a care home, their own home or another setting.
Adult Social Work Apprenticeship Fund for councils – reminder
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) is making £12 million of funding available for councils to apply for a contribution towards the costs of training and supervising new social work apprentices.
The purpose of the fund is to increase social worker capacity in council adult social care. The funding provides a contribution for councils to fund the costs associated with apprenticeships that are not otherwise covered by the apprenticeship levy.
DHSC welcomes expression of interest application forms from individual councils and groups of collaborating councils in England.
Councils can only apply once per financial year – either on their own or as part of a group. There will be one application round in February 2024 and another in late spring and/or early summer 2024.
Housing developments biodiversity requirement
Developers in England are now required to deliver 10% Biodiversity Net Gain when building new housing, industrial or commercial developments. This makes England becoming the first country in the world to make Biodiversity Net Gain a legal requirement. Biodiversity Net Gain, introduced through the world-leading Environment Act, is intended to help deliver the government's commitment to halt species decline by 2030.
LGA Sustainability Hub
The LGA has launched its new Sustainability programme, which is delivered in partnership and funded through the Crown Commercial Service. The programme provides opportunities to build councils’ capability and capacity in sustainability and the environment. Do check out the new Sustainability Hub on our website. If you have any questions about our Sustainability programme, please email us at sustainability@local.gov.uk
Funding to help VCSE organisations improve energy efficiency – reminder and further details
Back in December the Department for Culture, Media and Sport launched a £25.5 million funding package to help voluntary, community, and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations in England improve their energy efficiency.
The scheme is open to frontline community organisations across England. Groundwork UK, which is delivering the scheme, is particularly keen to hear from small and medium organisations with significant concerns around energy which are directly supporting individuals and communities with critical needs, especially those related to the rising cost of living.
Councils are encouraged to share this scheme with VCSE organisations in their area who are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.
Government policy paper: Review of risk of modern slavery and human trafficking in the NHS supply chain
The Health and Care Act 2022 requires the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with the support of NHS England, to conduct a review of modern slavery risk in healthcare supply chains and propose legislation to eradicate the use of goods or services tainted by slavery or human trafficking. This report contains the outcomes of that review.
Help set the future direction of Procurement in the public sector
The landscape of public sector operations is undergoing a transformation, with Innovation Procurement at the forefront following the introduction of the Procurement Act 2023. The Innovation Procurement Empowerment Centre (IPEC) is your ally in navigating this shift. IPEC invites you to participate in an independent research study aimed at assessing awareness, understanding, and adoption of Innovation Procurement within public bodies. Your expertise is the key to setting the agenda for change and will help to shape the future support provided by IPEC. The survey has up to 32 questions and should take no more than ten minutes to complete.
LGA Do you have the best hiring strategies?
Thursday 22 February 2024, 10.30am – 12.00pm | Virtual
LGA Building an enabling digital culture – procurement, governance and security
1 March, 10am – 11.30am | Virtual
The Procurement Act Expo
12 March 2024 | In person conference
LGA Transformation Conference (Hybrid event)
Tuesday 26 March 2024, 10.30am - 2.30pm | 18 Smith Square, Westminster, London & Online
Procurex National
Thursday 16 May 2024 | Liverpool Exhibition Centre
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