Bristol City Council to spend £9 million on adult social care services during the coronavirus pandemic
Bristol City Council is to invest £9 million in adult social care services in the next three months, to meet the increase in demands during the coronavirus pandemic.
The council received £13 million in total from central government to help with costs and financial pressures caused by the COVID-19 crisis.
Officials decided that £9 of the £13 million would need to be allocated to providing adult social care services throughout the city.
Council leaders have said that the extra funding will 'build resilience' in the local care systems and also help to increase capacity where needed to meet extra demands.
The Council will also work closely with the voluntary sector to make sure the front line social care services are protected.
They say the money will help to ensure that positions are filled when absence increases, offering to increase the hourly rate of agency staff if needed.
The additional funding will support:
The facilitation of rapid discharge from hospital within 1 hour when someone is medically fit for discharge, and resettling at home or in an appropriate care setting
Providing cover for frontline staff, including bringing in agency staff on an increased hourly wage if needed
Working closely with the independent sector including nursing homes and home support to ensure they have the capacity and resilience to deal with the extra pressures over the coming months
£750,000 of extra resources to some key organisations to support volunteers and existing capacity, to ensure people return home safely and well and are in receipt of appropriate care