Adult social care - winter preparedness plan: 2021-22

This Plan sets out the measures that will be applied across the adult social care sector to meet the challenges over the winter 2021 - 2022. It details information to all those involved in and affected by adult social care provision. The Plan accompanies the Health and Social Care Winter Overview.


Introduction

This Winter Preparedness Plan sets out the measures that will be applied across the adult social care sector to meet the challenges of the winter ahead. It aims to provide information and assurance to all those involved in and affected by the provision of adult social care, including: those who access support and care and their family and friends; the social care workforce and unpaid carers; and care providers and sector leaders across Scotland.

It is a companion document to the Health and Social Care Winter Overview, which sets out the key challenges and response measures that will be implemented within the NHS and care this winter. Both Plans recognise the interdependencies across health and social care and that successful implementation can only be achieved through an integrated and collaborative approach to service delivery. The Plan should also complement and support contingency plans devised at local level and by individual providers.

To ensure that the Plan benefits the diverse range of people that use and provide adult social care services, it is centred around four key principles:

  • Supporting the needs and wellbeing of the social care workforce and unpaid carers
  • Maintaining high quality integrated health and social care services throughout the autumn/winter period
  • Protecting those who use social care support from the direct impact of COVID-19 and wider winter viruses
  • Working in partnership across health and social care to deliver this Plan

Within these categories, the Plan provides specific guidance on a range of critical issues:

Supporting the social care workforce & unpaid carers Maintaining high quality integrated services COVID-19 & wider winter virus protection Delivery through working in partnership
Mental Health & Wellbeing Care at Home, Home First & Hospital Discharge Infection Prevention & Control Monitoring & Review
Recruitment & Retention Day & Respite Services COVID-19 Vaccination Assurance & Support
Staffing Deficits Primary & Community Health Care Seasonal Flu Vaccine Multi-Disciplinary Teams
Registered Nurses in Care Homes Anticipatory Care Plans Testing Root Cause Analysis
Turas Care Management
Fair Work Oral, Eye and Audiology Health Those at Highest Risk from COVID-19 Technology & Digital Support
Unpaid Carers Community Pathway Visiting in adult care homes
PPE End of Life
Mental Health Transition & Recovery

The Plan provides high level information on the measures to be taken in each of these areas and also provides links to more detailed policy and strategy documents where appropriate.

We are grateful to the wide range of organisations across the social care sector for their assistance in drafting this plan, including those represented on the Pandemic Response Adult Social Care Group: Local Government, the NHS, Health and Social Care Partnerships, Regulators, the Third Sector, Independent Sector, Unpaid Carers, Trade Unions and professional bodies.

Contact

Email: CareHomesCovidSupport@gov.scot

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