Personal Protective Equipment for care homes and carers visiting people in their own homes will receive another £1.17 million of allocated funds.
As part of a £4.3 million distribution of help and support agreed by Staffordshire County Council’s Cabinet, gloves, masks and aprons will all be funded by the contribution.
Alan White, Deputy Leader of Staffordshire County Council and Cabinet member for Health, Care and Wellbeing, said: “Those working in care homes, or delivering care in people’s houses have been doing a marvellous job throughout this crisis.
“They – and their employers – are coping with unprecedented challenges and we are doing all we can to support them as they carry on caring for Staffordshire residents.”
Throughout the crisis the county council has been helping care providers with guidance and advice daily, and has previously pledged around £15.5 million to help with staffing costs, increased care packages and buying additional PPE to ensure adequate supplies.
As well as directing more money towards more PPE, the latest £4.3 million prioritisation of Government money includes a small loans scheme and a commitment to reserving places for future residents, so services can plan for future demand.
The county council will also soon begin distributing £9.9 million, primarily to care homes, to help with infection control.
Alan White added: “The county council has now allocated more than £3.1 million alone to providing PPE to ensure that workers on the front line can do their work with confidence.
“We continue to invest where and when necessary to help keep Staffordshire people safe and the additional funding for the care sector is an essential part of this commitment.”
During the crisis, Staffordshire County Council has already organised:
- More than 2,000 food parcels to vulnerable self-isolators;
- Additional support for foster carers and care leavers;
- Extra funding for nurseries and childminders to stay open for the children of key workers;
- The launch of I Count, where council workers switch roles to support frontline efforts;
- I Care, which has seen several hundred community volunteers trained to deliver personal care;
- A rent holiday at its enterprise centres;
- A £500,000 grant scheme to help micro-businesses.
Despite receiving approximately £38 million from the Government towards Covid-19-related costs, the county council is currently anticipating the crisis will cost the authority at least £50 million.
