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COVID Testing for PA’s

The Scottish Government has released details of plans to provide “Lateral Testing Kits” for social care workers, including Personal Assistants.  From Monday 18th January 2021, PA’s will be able to request and access testing kits, record the results of the test and get any advice, guidance or support required if they test positive.

The launch of the Lateral Testing is accompanied by a range of support guidance and webinars, further details below:

To help to ensure that staff are familiar with the training and guidance before undertaking their first test, guidance, education and training documents can be accessed here: www.gov.scot/care-at-home-covidtesting

To access the tests, PA’s and / or employers should first call your contact centre Contact Centre on 0300 303 3020 to outline the required supply, quoting your name and profession for validation (HSCP’s and Hubs are aware that Personal Assistants are part of the valid workforce for these tests).  The contact centre will advise the best local PPE Hub to pick up your test.

Online workshops – feedback and updates

Scottish Government will be holding online workshops through January and February to walk through the testing process, as well as to share updates and hear feedback from you.  All are welcome to attend one or more session although please note that Microsoft Teams can only accommodate around 300-350 people in any one meeting. Places are on a first come, first served basis and meetings will be opened a few minutes before the start time. We suggest joining a couple of minutes before the start times to maximise your chances of joining.

Workshops will be held on:

Tuesday 19th January 2021, 12-1pm Click here to join the meeting

Wednesday 20th January, 11-12pm Click here to join the meeting

Tuesday 26th January, 12-1pm Click here to join the meeting

Friday 29th January, 2-3pm Click here to join the meeting

Monday 1st February, 2-3pm Click here to join the meeting

Tuesday 2nd February, 2-3pm Click here to join the meeting

Monday 8th February 2-3pm, Click here to join the meeting

Tuesday 9th February, 12-1pm Click here to join the meeting

Monday 15th February 2-3pm, Click here to join the meeting

Tuesday 16th February 2-3pm, Click here to join the meeting

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New Scheme “welcomed” by CEO

The Scottish Government’s latest initiative to financially recompense any Personal Assistants (PA’s) who lost earnings due to having to shield during the pandemic has been “warmly welcomed” by SPAEN CEO, Colin Millar.

The commitment and dedication of Personal Assistants, not just during the pandemic but since the inception of Direct Payments, has been admirable.  They are and continue to be a key part of Scotland’s social care community.  Whilst the “furlough” scheme was made available, there was a lot of confusion and uncertainty around if and when it applied in such specific circumstances such as people employed directly to provide vital social care support.

The Scottish Government’s recognition that some people may have been financially affected by the uncertainty around these rules, coupled with many people having to shield because of underlying health conditions themselves is, without doubt, warmly welcomed by both SPAEN and the many PA employers who were distressed and upset at the prospect of their assistants loosing out financially.

You can read more about the Scheme and SPAEN’s response by following this link.

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SPAEN response to SHRC Report

SPAEN’s CEO, Colin Millar, has “welcomed” the “stark, brutal reality experienced by people across Scotland” in today’s release from the Scottish Human Rights Commission on the impact of COVID-19 on social care support and human rights.

“Anyone reading this report and many of the case examples that its uncovered should be distressed at how our fellow citizens were ‘abandoned’ during this pandemic.  These are real people, each case covered in this report is a person, an individual, somebody’s loved one.  And this is only a snapshot, there will be many more individual experiences that haven’t been captured but are equally harrowing and alarming.”

“We’re told the Scottish Government and partners, including CoSLA, had scenario planning and response modelling from an exercise undertaken a few years previously.  It would appear that this didn’t go far enough or didn’t extend to include other key delivery partners to ensure that should such a pandemic hit Scotland, there was flexibility and security in the delivery of social care.  I’ve raised this concern before and I hope that, as we learn lessons from this unprecedented time, we learn that social care is an eco-system comprising many parts and partners, not a system or process aimed at keeping people in their homes for as long as possible.”

“I’ve said before that, from the many conversations and enquiries I and SPAEN had, that people felt ‘forgotten’ and ‘abandoned’, particularly those using a Direct Payment to commission and control their own care and support.  Ironically, these people were the least affected in our experience as they had complete control and were able to operate flexibly and nimbly to the circumstances.  I would repeat my call to have anyone and everyone using social care to review and consider whether moving to a Direct Payment or Individual Service Fund (ISF) held independently of the social care provider or local authority council would protect them against these kinds of acts should the pandemic flare up again.”

The report has made 24 recommendations to the Scottish Government and CoSLA, some of which they describe as “urgent” to “resolve immediate human rights concerns”.

You can read the full report on the link above.

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Social Care Staff Support Fund Launched

At today’s daily COVID-19 briefing, the Scottish Government announced a new “Social Care Staff Support Fund” to help anyone working in social care who may be financially affected should they be required to self-isolate.

The Scottish Government has confirmed that this scheme is available to Personal Assistants (PA’s), you can read more about the Scheme and how to apply below:

“Social care staff support fund

Social care staff working in care homes, care at home, and housing support, including personal assistants, should be paid their expected income when ill of self-isolating as a result of COVID-19.

Employers should pay eligible staff their expected income. They can then claim any additional costs they incur through the Fund from the relevant commissioning Local authority or Integration Authority.

The Fund is aimed at social care workers who may be expected to self-isolate on more than one occasion due to the nature their work, or the work environment – for example, carrying out personal care. The purpose of the fund is to support infection prevention control and prevent financial hardship.  The Fund became operational on 24 June, backdated to 23 March.

Information about the Fund, including the groups of social care workers who are eligible, the Fund criteria, and how employers can apply for reimbursement, is available here.”

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COVID-19 Restrictions, September 2020

In the Scottish Parliament yesterday, the First Minister set out new restrictions aimed at reducing the spread of COVID-19.  Since that statement was made, SPAEN has received an increased number of enquiries about how and if this affects PA’s and unpaid carers.  The following statement from our CEO, Colin Millar, seeks to provide reassurance and guidance in response to these requests:

“SPAEN is aware that the Scottish Government has issued new restrictions aimed at reducing the spread of COVID-19 through community transmission.  These regulations include restrictions on home visiting and this has led to many people asking whether this applies to Personal Assistants (PA’s) and unpaid carers.

SPAEN is clear that PA’s should continue, where possible and safe, to provide social care support to their employers following all the guidelines and regulations that have been in place since March of this year.  This includes personal and environmental hygiene, the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and self-isolating where the employer or employee shows any of the symptoms of COVID-19.

The same applies to unpaid carers, including those who have had to take on caring duties as a result of their regular care arrangements being removed or varied either by their local council home care service or care agency.

The provision of social care remains absolutely vital and cannot be interrupted by the increase in COVID-19 cases but should continue to be provided following all the guidelines and using the appropriate PPE as already advised.”

SPAEN members are able to access information on a range of COVID-19 guides and supports via the Member’s area on our website and there is also extensive guidance set out on the Scottish Government’s website.

PA’s and unpaid carers should continue to use appropriate PPE at all times to protect both themselves and those they are caring for and this includes the use of PPE even where the person being cared for or the person delivering the care or support is not showing any symptoms of COVID-19.

The Scottish Government has already committed to and made PPE available for PA’s and unpaid carers and our understanding is that this provision continues so should you require PPE, you can source this through local hubs in your area.

Any PA employer requiring support on the “furlough” scheme or seeking advice around self-isolating either as a result of their developing symptoms or their PA showing symptoms can contact us for specific advice and guidance on (01698) 250280, by e-mail to info@spaen.co.uk or through our Facebook or Twitter accounts.

It is vitally important that all social care support delivered in a person’s home or community setting is done so safely and that the guidance issued in March continues to be followed as this has remained unchanged.

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Welcome assurance received in relation to PPE

SPAEN’s CEO, Colin Millar, has welcomed the Cabinet Secretary for Health & Sport’s written assurance that the ongoing issue of Personal Assistants and their employers are struggling to access Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

Speaking in the Scottish Parliament yesterday, Jeane Freeman MSP told the Chamber, “I need to apologise for the fact that we have not resolved this up until now.  This is a really important group of people, the individuals that they are caring for are very important individuals and there is no reason, at this point, why they cannot access PPE.  So my apology goes alongside my assurance that before I leave to go home tonight, we will have resolved this.”

She went on to state, “These Personal Assistants have my assurance that we will have resolved this by the end of today.”

The Cabinet Secretary subsequently followed up this Parliamentary statement with a letter to Colin repeating the apology for the delay and re-affirming her commitment to have this matter resolved, outlining the steps the Scottish Government are taking to ensure this is done swiftly.  You can view the full letter here.

Welcoming the commitment and renewed assurance, Colin said, “We are very grateful to the Cabinet Secretary and all MSP’s who’ve supported SPAEN in their calls to have this matter given the attention it deserves from the Scottish Government.  The delays have caused considerable distress and anger amongst many PA employers and their workers, who have continued to provide support and services despite the personal risk to them and their employers.”

“A quick resolution will ensure that people get the equipment they need to remain protected and SPAEN stands ready to work with the Scottish Government, CoSLA and any other partners to ensure this is achieved.  I would like to thank the Cabinet Secretary for her consideration and leadership in bringing this delay to an end.”

As soon as full details are available on the practical steps PA’s and employers can take to access PPE, we will update our News section, social media channels and will write direct to all our members.