Warwickshire

Payroll and Managed Accounts

Please note that unless you informed us that you wanted to remain with the Rowan Organisation both your Payroll and Managed Accounts have now been transferred to Penderels Trust. Please note that these were all sent across in a timely manner to ensure that Penderels could complete your next pay run in September. If you have any queries regarding late payments etc., these will need to be addressed with Penderels Trust. Should you wish to return to the Rowan however, please do not hesitate to e-mail us at info@therowan.org or telephone 02476 322860 and we will contact you to discuss this further.

Helping you manage your wellbeing if you care for someone during the COVID-19 outbreak

If you provide help for someone, such as family, friends or neighbours, who couldn’t cope without you it is important to look after your own health and wellbeing.

This leaflet offers advice and information about the services available to support you during this difficult time.

Warwickshire Carer Wellbeing Service (Carers Trust Heart of England)

This Service provides emotional and practical support to help people care for someone and maintain their health and wellbeing.
A wellbeing check can be done for carers to identify any needs they may have and also provide signposting to other agencies to help support the person they care for.
A community-focused service helps the person with a caring responsibility have access to local agencies who can help with shopping, collecting prescriptions and other practical help.
If there is an emergency and you must leave your loved one the CRESS service may be able to help.

The helpline can provide a listening ear to talk through problems and provide reassurance.

Helpline: 02476 632972 (opt 2) Opening times: Monday to Friday 9am to 8pm and Saturday 9am to 1pm.

Email: carerssupport@carerstrusthofe.org.uk

Website: www.carerstrusthofe.org.uk/warwickshire-carer-wellbeing-service/

Have a ‘virtual cuppa’

Mobilise provides information and support on COVID-19 to carers. There is currently a ‘virtual cuppa’ for carers at 4pm each day – where carers are invited to link up with each other via laptops, tablets and smartphones to share ideas, news and have a laugh, which is proving very popular visit the website to sign up.

Website: www.mobiliseonline.co.uk/cuppa

Warwickshire Safe Haven

Provides support for people (18+) who are feeling distressed and overwhelmed. The helpline is available (6-11pm Thursday to Sunday).

Telephone: 02477 714 554

Text: 07970 042270

Email: safehaven@cwmind.org.uk

Mental health helpline and webchat

Confidential service, available 24/7. Access to a trained team of experienced support workers. Available on 0800 616 171 or via the Time Online webchat

Care Companion

A free online resource, developed by carers for carers. Its confidential with reliable resources and information tailored to the care needs of their loved ones.

Website: www.carecompanion.org.uk

Family Information Service

A free information and signposting service for families with children and young people aged 0-25. The service also helps professionals working with families in Warwickshire.

Website: www.warwickshire.gov.uk/childrenandfamilies.

Warwickshire Parent Carer Forum

The forum is for parents, carers and families who have children or young people with Special Educational Needs or disabilities (SEND) to get useful information and advice.

Website: www.warwickshireparentcarerforum.co.uk/About/

Warwickshire Young Carers

This service aims to help make a difference to the lives of young carers from the age of 8 years of age upwards. Remote support is currently available such as one to one calls and virtual groups to young carers. Please check the website and social media for latest information and activities.

Website: www.warwickshireyoungcarers.org.uk or

Email: info@warwickshireyoungcarers.org.uk

For general information on Carer Support

Website: www.warwickshire.gov.uk/carers

Other support at home

Community Meals

This service delivers hot or frozen meals to vulnerable people over the age of 50.

Telephone: 01926 889511 or

Website: www.warwickshire.gov.uk/mealsservice

HEART (Home Environment Assessment and Response Team)

This team provides support to Warwickshire residents who need to improve, repair or adapt their homes to meet their own health, safety and wellbeing needs.

Telephone (North): 024 7637 6294 (South): 024 7637 6299

Website: www.nuneatonandbedworth.gov.uk/heart

Assistive Technology

AskSARA is an online self-help guide providing information on products and equipment for older and disabled adults and children.

Website:https://asksara.dlf.org.uk/

For more general information on local services and support visit Website: www.warwickshire.gov.uk/coronavirus

Dementia CONNECT (Formerly known as Dementia Navigators)

Provides support for those with Dementia and their carers.

Telephone: 0333 150 3456

Opening times: Monday to Wednesday: 9:00am to 8:00pm Thursday and Friday: 9:00am to 5:00pm Saturday and Sunday: 10:00am to 4:00pm (Calls charged at standard local rate)

Email:dementia.connect@alzheimers.org.uk

Website: www.alzheimers.org.uk/dementiaconnect

For more information about caring for someone with dementia during the COVID-19 outbreak please click here check dementia resource.

Bereavement support

Dealing with bereavement is hard whatever the situation, however, during the COVID-19 outbreak, this can be particularly difficult. For general counselling and bereavement information please visit our website.

Website: www.warwickshire.gov.uk/counselling.

Cruse

This organisation offers information and support to all those affected by bereavement.

Helpline:0808 808 1677

Opening times: Monday to Friday: 9.30am to 5pm (excluding bank holidays) Extended hours on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings, open until 8pm.

Website:www.cruse.org.uk/get-help/coronavirus-dealingbereavement-and-grief.

Supporting people who are terminally ill

Carers of those who have a terminal illness can talk to the specialist service team at Marie Curie for advice on coronavirus.

Telephone free: 0800 090 2309 7 days a week including bank holidays.

Opening times: Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm, Saturday to Sunday 11am to 5pm, and 10am-4pm on bank holidays.

Website: www.mariecurie.org.uk/help/support/coronavirus

Guidance for Social Care staff and Customers who have a Direct Payment and COVID-19

Direct Payment Support Service

Warwickshire County Council has a contract in place with Penderels Trust who provide employment related advice and guidance. Please visit their website for information based on their frequently asked questions and guidance about how you can be prepared as a Direct Payment employer during this time.

We strongly advise you continue to contact Penderels to address your employer related queries - e-mail HERE.

Direct Payment Employer Liability Insurance

If you are a Direct Payment Employer, you must have employer’s liability insurance in place. It is still important at this time you still follow the guidance given by them. Please contact your chosen insurance company for their advice.

Pre-paid cards: Pre-Financial Services

Many of you now have a prepayment card in place - we will continue to make payments to the card.

The government has published new adult social care guidance to protect the most vulnerable against COVID-19. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-adult-social-care-guidance-to-protect-the-most-vulnerable-against-covid-19

Where a customer has a Personal Assistant that they are directly employing, DP employers may find it helpful to refer to the guidance that has been issued to social care providers to support them in understanding their responsibilities and the responsibilities of their PAs https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-residential-care-supported-living-and-home-care-guidance/covid-19-guidance-on-home-care-provision

DP employers should also refer to the Government Guidance for Employers to support them to understand their responsibilities in relation to pay of PAs

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-to-employers-and-businesses-about-covid-19

Specifically, in relation to the employment of Personal Assistants:

If, under government guidance, a PA is required to self-isolate – the government guidance states how long this should be for; https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/

If a customer is using their Direct Payment to employ a carer via an agency arrangement, the agency will have contingency arrangements in place to provide care. If the DP customer has any concerns regarding the contingency arrangements in place, they should contact the care agency.

Direct Payment recipients who employ their own staff should have plans in place to provide contingency arrangements if their PA is not available. DP customers should refer to these arrangements in the first instance. It is recognised that for many customers their contingency arrangements may include using informal carers, family or friends to support them in the short term.

Where contingency arrangements cannot be accessed (due to staff sickness or self-isolation), the DP customer should contact Adult Social Care to discuss how their care needs can be met (please call 01926 410410). If there are no other means of providing care, Warwickshire County Council Adult Social Care will provide a commissioned service; Adult Social Care will only commission care that is essential i.e. personal care, toileting, and meal provision; Support to access the local community/social inclusion will not be provided. The Direct Payment will continue to be paid to enable the DP employer to fulfil any employer responsibilities.

The DP recipient needs to consider whether the PA would be eligible for Statutory Sick Pay in the first instance.

If the PA earns above the Lower Earnings Limit (currently £9,500 per annum) then statutory sick pay would apply from day one. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/rates-and-thresholds-for-employers-2020-to-2021#statutory-sick-pay-ssp

The Statutory Sick Pay (General) (Coronavirus Amendment) Regulations 2020 came into force on Friday 13th March. Statutory Sick Pay will now be payable to those self-isolating under Government guidance – there is no need for formal written notice to be given by a medical officer. Definition of 'Persons deemed incapable of work' now includes:

isolating himself from other people in such a manner as to prevent infection or contamination with coronavirus disease, in accordance with guidance published by Public Health England, NHS National Services Scotland(d) or Public Health Wales(e) and effective on 12th March 2020; and
by reason of that isolation is unable to work.

NOTE this amendment is set to automatically expire 8 months from the enforcement date unless it is removed by statute.

The Government has also issued guidance on furloughed workers:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-to-employers-and-businesses-about-covid-19/covid-19-support-for-businesses#support-for-businesses-through-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme

Employers may choose to access the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme; in which case they will discuss with their PAs becoming classified as a furloughed worker. This would mean that employees are kept on the employer’s payroll, rather than being laid off.

To qualify for this scheme, employees should not undertake work for you while they are furloughed. This will allow the employer to claim a grant of up to 80% of the employee’s wage for all employment costs, up to a cap of £2,500 per month.

Employees will remain employed while furloughed (in line with Government guidance). After exploring this option if an employer finds they have insufficient funds to pay for the PA WCC will fund the additional contingency required.

Please access the links above for updated/further information and discuss options with Penderels in relation to your PAs.

If a PA would not be eligible for Statutory Sick Pay or the Coronavirus Retention Scheme but cannot work due to Government guidelines, the following would apply:

If a DP recipient needs to use contingency arrangements whilst a PA or themselves are self-isolating, there would be enough funds within the DP to cover pay for the PA and contingency for up to four weeks. If the PA or DP recipient is required to self-isolate longer than initial Government guidance (i.e. those classed as vulnerable) this would need to be reviewed by WCC.
If Adult Social Care provide a commissioned service due to contingency arrangements being unavailable, this would be paid for by WCC and not by the DP recipient. DP would be used to pay employee for initial isolation period (up to four weeks) – after this WCC would need to review.
If the Personal Assistant self-isolates through choice, when current guidance does not require it, they will not be entitled to pay or sick pay; they can take annual leave if agreed or unpaid leave.
However, if a DP recipient requests that a PA self-isolates outside Government guidelines, they would be required to pay the PA and if a contingency is put in place the DP recipient themselves would be liable for contingency costs.
If a Personal assistant is abroad and cannot return because their borders are locked down as a result of Corona Virus restrictions, the Personal Assistant would not be paid as they have not attended for work. If a DP employer is happy to extend the Personal Assistant’s annual leave, then this could be an option.

Personal Protective Equipment

The on-going treatment of the COVID-19 pandemic is leading to unprecedented levels of demand on the supply of Personal Protective Equipment across the whole world.

In order to ensure efficient management of the limited supplies a single co-ordinated approach has been developed by Warwickshire County Council, ensuring those that most need PPE most are prioritised.

This process will replace all existing processes previously used by the council departments and this approach will be implemented across the county council operations, schools, providers, volunteers and personal assistants.

From today: If you need PPE Please E-mail cv19PPE@warwickshire.gov.uk, including the following information:

What PPE is required
How many customers will you need to use PPE for? Please see below instructions on what PPE should be worn in what situation. We will only be issuing PPE in line with this guidance.
How often you will be interacting with that customer over the next seven days.

We will then arrange supply, based on the agreed prioritisation process.

For your information here is the guidance on what PPE to wear when visiting self-isolating customers – please note there are different versions depending on if you are giving personal care or not.

With no personal care: https://apps.warwickshire.gov.uk/api/documents/WCCC-1130-310

With personal care or physical interaction: https://apps.warwickshire.gov.uk/api/documents/WCCC-1130-309

Alongside any arrangements made due to COVID-19 Warwickshire County Council will follow standard audit processes on DP monitoring.

The following Support Organisations are contraced by Warwicshire County Council to provide Direct Payments Support...