Please see below for a letter from the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport, Jeane Freeman, to social care employers relating to both the coronavirus job retention scheme and to any workers who were not placed on this March – October 2020, but who were eligible for health reasons.

Extension of UK Government Job Retention Scheme (JRS)

We have received a letter today (3 August) from the Scottish Government and COSLA with an update on social care sustainability payments.

The initial funding arrangement to support the social care sector expired on 31st July. However, due to ongoing challenges for Local Authorities, IJBS and social care providers, it has been agreed that there will be an additional fund of up to £50 million. This fund will be available until the end of September.

The Social Care Staff Support Fund remains unchanged by this extension and will also be available until the end of September.

Letter - Additional Funding for Social Care

It is reported that across Scotland only an average of 38% of providers have made claims for sustainability payments. In some areas, this number is as low as 14%.

By now you should have received forms to support your application from your Local Authority/HSCP or Lead Authority. The principles for these payments can be found here: https://www.cosla.gov.uk/news/may-2020/social-care-sustainability-payments

As you know, Scottish Care has been working closely with Scottish Government, COSLA and Chief Finance Officers to progress issues of financial sustainability and staffing costs.

Three weeks ago, we introduced a system of raising individual concerns at a national level where they are then progressed by COSLA against agreed principles. Much work has been done to address these concerns. For more information about the sort of issues which have been addressed in your local area, please see the spreadsheet below.

WHAT DO I NEED TO DO?

• Make your claims for payment as soon as possible. Failure to do so could impact future funding opportunities.
• If you have an urgent need for funding, raise this with your local commissioning team – they are prepared for such circumstances to make priority payments.
• If you are having concerns with the payment process, raise this with your local commissioning team. If this does not help, then contact your local Independent Sector Lead or if you do not have one, contact Swaran Rakhra, Membership Support Manager. They will feed this into the process outlined above to be addressed by COSLA.

You may already be aware but Round Two of the Wellbeing Fund is open for applications, with a deadline of 12 noon on 22 May.  You can find more information and download a template application form at the following SCVO link:

https://scvo.org.uk/support/coronavirus/funding/scottish-government/wellbeing-fund

The Wellbeing Fund aims to support organisations across the third sector that are providing important services to people who are most affected by the coronavirus pandemic. This forms part of a £350 million package from the Scottish Government.  Aimed at the Third Sector, proposed activity should be focused on:

• Working with at-risk groups with new needs that are not currently met by existing services 
• Providing vital wellbeing support on issues such as mental health, personal finances, employment, housing, food, physical health and home life. 
• Immediate and emerging forms of support.