Further Covid-19 Information from RCC – Care Homes and Covid Marshals

Adult Social Care winter plan
The Adult Social Care winter plan that was recently published by government had two
additional requirements attached to it regarding care homes. Firstly, a self-assessment
questionnaire to provide assurance with care market sustainability, which we are currently working on. The second relates to Care Quality Commission (CQC) designated COVID Care Homes.
The latter requirement is for each authority to have an identified care home that will care for COVID-positive patients in a secluded area within its establishment, with its own care and support staff who only working with COVID patients. This commissioning request has come to Adult Social Care (ASC) to facilitate and inform CQC of the identified home.
We have a very good relationship with all of our care homes and all have indicated
previously they would not take COVID-positive patients. ASC is therefore working closely
with County and City colleagues to identify homes where we may all be able to facilitate
COVID-positive hospital discharges.


Local Area Coordinators Scheme
Rutland County Council is required to have a Local Area Coordinators Scheme for Test,
Track and Trace. These are people who will knock on doors if people in Rutland have
received a positive COVID test but failed to respond to phone calls informing them they
are positive. All coordinators will be wearing the necessary PPE.
COVID Marshalls
The question of COVID Marshalls has been discussed in detail at RTCG. There is
agreement that COVID Marshals would be beneficial in our towns to remind people about the need to follow social distancing, wear masks and wash their hands regularly. This is in order to be as proactive and preventative as possible.
Contingency planning
RTCG is looking at ways to fund extra resources to enable contingencies, should we are
to enter the second tier in the new government tier system or even the highest third tier.
RTCG has also discussed the possible need to close less business critical areas of the
council if needed, to support business critical services if the second wave continues and
escalates further. Plans are being put in place so we can act quickly if required.
Self-isolation payments
People are now required by law to self-isolate, supported by payment of £500 for those on lower incomes who cannot work from home and have lost income as a result.
We have now set up a scheme which went live from 12th October to administer self-
isolation payments. We have had six claims to date.
Further details can be found on our website: www.rutland.gov.uk/testandtracepayments.

Finance updates
There have been various announcements this week including the suggestion that we will receive another non-ring fenced COVID-19 grant to support all aspects of work from a further £1bn fund. We await the details on this. A full round up of the COVID-19 funding position will be presented in the November Finance report to Cabinet.
Local lockdown grants
The Council previously received guidance in respect of a Local Restrictions Support Grant (LRSG). This would involve making payments of up to £3,000 (revised from £1,500) to businesses (not only those who pay rates) which have closed or have been impacted by a local lockdown.
Some initial work has been undertaken and the Council will be stepping up plans to put
arrangements in place so we can respond if the need arise.

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