Technology Enabled Care services eligibility for Social Care Workforce Payment: FOI release

Information requested

How many Technology Enabled Care services across Scotland were determined to be eligible to receive the £500 thank you payment and in which council areas?

Response

I attach a response to some of the information you requested.

The answer to your question is that, the Scottish Government does not have access to the details of all of the roles determined to be eligible to receive the payment.

The £500 thank you payment recognises the particular debt we all owe to health and care staff, who have been – and continue to be – on the very front line of this crisis, helping to save lives and to protect us all.

When writing the guidance for local authorities, it was the intention that Technology Enabled Care services would be eligible under one of the following eligibility criteria:

1.1) by a Local Authority in an adult care home registered with the Care Inspectorate (including ancillary, catering, office, cleaning and transportation staff).

1.2) by a Local Authority in a housing support service registered with the Care Inspectorate (including ancillary, catering, office, cleaning and transportation staff).

1.3) by a Local Authority in a care at home for adults or adult day care service registered with the Care Inspectorate (including ancillary, catering, office, cleaning and transportation staff).

A critical aspect of the above criteria is that the services must be registered with the Care Inspectorate.

However, if local authority staff were unhappy with the initial determination of their employer, they were invited to request that Scottish Government conduct a decision review; providing supporting information as to why they were eligible to receive the payment.

As of 21/10/2021, the Scottish Government have received a total of six (6) decision review requests, from two local authorities, related to Technology Enabled Care services in Scotland.

Of these decision review requests, the outcomes determined by Scottish Government were as follows:

Personal details withheld	East Dunbartonshire Council	Uphold
Personal details withheld	East Dunbartonshire Council	Uphold
Personal details withheld	East Dunbartonshire Council	Uphold
Personal details withheld	East Dunbartonshire Council	Uphold
Personal details withheld	Falkirk Council	Overturn
Personal details withheld	Falkirk Council	Overturn

Scottish Government were able to confirm that Falkirk Council’s Technology Enabled Care services were registered with the Care Inspectorate, therefore the initial determination of the local authority was overturned.

However, with regards to East Dunbartonshire Council, it was confirmed that the Technology Enabled Care service is not registered with the Care Inspectorate. Therefore, the Scottish Government upheld the initial determination of the local authority that these roles were not eligible to receive the £500 thank you payment.

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