Coronavirus: Massive budget rise needed to support Peterborough adults and children in care

The latest budget proposals from the city council show that the effects of the crisis will have huge ramifications both short and long term for some of the most vulnerable in society.

Its 2021/22 budget report, which outlines the first set of savings needed to tackle an eye-watering £36 million, reveals that an extra £5.1 million will be needed for adult social care as “the vast majority of external funding which had been available during phase one of Covid-19 has now ceased – at a time when the NHS is gearing back up to ‘business as usual’, and we organise to meet the challenges of winter pressures, flu and further expected Covid-19 outbreaks”.

Measures to increase adult social spending include:

. Continuing to fund the additional 104 beds commissioned by the council for patients discharged from hospital into other care settings during phase one of Covid-19

. Continuing to support providers with infection control measures associated with Covid-19, for example PPE (personal protective equipment) and professional support

. Supporting providers to cover the cost of the largest increase to the National Living Wage seen in 20 years.

Moreover, the amount spend on adult social care due to contract inflation, and the cost of providing care - with an increasingly ageing population - is set to rise by £2.3 million in 2022/23 and £4.6 million in 2023/24.

Back in April, during lockdown, care providers in Peterborough and Cambridgeshire were given a 10 per increase in their funding to support vulnerable residents.

The budget has also revealed a new annual pressure of £2.7 million a year in the Family Safeguarding team and through a rise in children being put into placements.

The report states: “While the council’s overall number of children in care remains significantly below the average of its statistical neighbours, we have seen a small increase during the Covid-19 pandemic, partly as a result of families struggling to continue to look after children with very complex needs at a time when other forms of support including help from extended family was less available to them.”

The costs of specialist placements for a young person with complex needs can be as much as £500,000 a year, the council said.

Council leader Cllr John Holdich praised the authority’s children’s services team, while noting that the effect of closing schools during lockdown means there is now an increase in young people needing support.

He said: “One of the issues is a lot of the referrals are from schools which were closed. We’re expecting a big rise over time and it’s started to happen.

“And because of the delay they are even more complicated cases.”

Meanwhile, the report has outlined the creation of a dedicated Care Home Support Team across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough for two years to “support homes where systemic issues are identified and reduce the risk of provider failure and/or large-scale safeguarding concerns”.

The support will include:

. Ensuring care and support documentation is up-to-date and meets the needs of all

. Supporting adherence to Mental Capacity Act and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards statutory duties across the home

. Liaising with safeguarding teams

. Checking the clinical needs of each resident are met and infection control measures are in place and appropriate

. Identifying opportunities for use of technology to support practice throughout the home.

To resource this new team, a manager and five social workers will need to be recruited, with Peterborough City Council paying 26 per cent and Cambridgeshire County Council 74 per cent.

The city council expects to spend £73,000 in the first year on the new team.

The council is also planning to cut the equivalent of a full time job in its Adults and Safeguarding team, while there is a budgeted £32,000 cut in “Disability Forum infrastructure”.

The budget report states: “There are regular provider forums in place and a more robust communication and support channel with the provider market which offers alternative solutions for those requiring the support previously offered.”

The Peterborough Telegraph has asked the council for further information.

Moreover, £15,000 a year will be saved after the role of head of public health intelligence across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough was made redundant at the end of August, although the council said the role had been taken on by other parts of the public health service.

Further budget articles will appear at www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk.