Staffordshire County Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Health, Care and Wellbeing Alan White said:
“As the coronavirus epidemic continues our priority must be to maintain care for the most vulnerable and the welfare of the staff who are supporting them.
“We have been supporting care providers during these difficult times, including with advice on how look after their clients and workers, additional staff, extra funding and supplies of personal protective equipment. Our iCare campaign is recruiting, training and mobilising additional workers who will be able to support care providers if they are required.
“The Government has recognised the immense pressures on care by now allowing local authorities greater flexibility to temporarily prioritise care for those most in need.
“We have taken the decision to use these flexibilities if we have to - but we will only use them where absolutely necessary. This will enable us to maintain care for people at higher risk. This is us thinking ahead and planning to use Care Act easements if and when they are needed, rather than whole scale implementation at this stage. This means that if we do have to use them we can do so in a managed way.
“Decisions are being made on a case by case basis. The only easement we have had to enact so far is deferring a small number of people’s full Care Act assessments. We are still assessing everyone to ensure that they are properly looked after.
“I think everybody recognises these are unprecedented times I want to thank people for their understanding, and reassure them that we are doing everything in our powers to keep everyone, but particularly the most vulnerable safe and well.”