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Coronavirus: information for adult care providers

Coronavirus (COVID-19) information for adult care providers

Where to find guidance, who adult care providers should contact about COVID-19

We are committed to supporting adult social care providers and service users during COVID-19. During this time the adult commissioning team have been temporarily restructured to support the market. This structure aims to provide responsive support when required and plan for our recovery.

This page has been developed to provide resources and key information for adult social care providers.  We issue a providers COVID-19 newsletter every week. If you haven’t received a newsletter please email adultcommissioning@bristol.gov.uk

Because of COVID-19 we'll be temporarily halt some commissioning activity and extend some contracts where it is appropriate to do so.  

During this time we'll:

  • contact affected contractors about current contracts
  • publish information about future commissioning activity as soon as it is available

What we are doing to support providers:

Care Home Support Package

You can read our response to government in the documents below.  

Financial Support to Care Providers

Bristol City Council has provided the following support to Care Providers in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

The government have published guidance on the use of PPE including a list of effective PPE.

If you are struggling to obtain PPE from your usual suppliers, email adultcommissioning@bristol.gov.uk .

For providers based in:

If you have exhausted all other options, call the National Supply Disruption Response (NSDR) on 0800 915 9964.

Testing

All symptomatic and asymptomatic care home staff and residents in England are now eligible for testing.  You can apply for coronavirus tests for a care home on gov.uk. Testing will be prioritised for care homes that look after the over 65s.

The first time a care home suspects an outbreak of coronavirus, care home managers should contact their local health protection team to arrange testing. Subsequent testing should be applied for on apply for coronavirus tests for a care home on gov.uk.

 How to administer a COVID 19 test to care home residents video  guides staff through the swab collection process.

Care worker staff who are self-isolating, either because they or a member of their household has symptoms, should continue to use the gov.uk apply for a coronavirus test if you're an essential worker to book a home test or an appointment at a test site.

Domiciliary care staff who need a test should also continue to use the gov.uk apply for a coronavirus test if you're an essential worker to book a home test or an appointment at a test site.

Care Management guidance

Our care management team are in contact with service users that are vulnerable during this time. We are aware that providers are having to put in place alternative arrangements in order to continue supporting service users.

To support this additional guidance has been developed to support providers around Mental Capacity Act (MCA) and Deprivation of Liberty (DOL) decision.  See resources section.

Care Home Support Plan

The government announced on 15 May 2020 extra monies to support the Care Home sector Infection Prevention. The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) are in the process of writing to all care homes to detail this offer.

We'll work to support care homes to be able to access the additional funding and support where possible. We'll publish further information when we have it.

Guidance for adult care providers

Government guidance:

Bristol City Council support and guidance

Budget 2020: help for business

Resources

Who to contact 

Email adultcommissioning@bristol.gov.uk to tell us if:

  • COVID-19 will impact on your service delivery
  • you need assistance

We'll pass your email to the best person to help.