COVID-19: Implications for the Support of People with Social Care Needs in England

ABSTRACT

This perspective examines the challenge posed by COVID-19 for social care services in England and describes responses to this challenge. People with social care needs experience increased risks of death and deteriorating physical and mental health with COVID-19. Social isolation introduced to reduce COVID-19 transmission may adversely affect well-being. While the need for social care rises, the ability of families and social care staff to provide support is reduced by illness and quarantine, implying reductions in staffing levels. Consequently, COVID-19 could seriously threaten care availability and quality. The government has sought volunteers to work in health and social care to help address the threat posed by staff shortages at a time of rising need, and the call has achieved an excellent response. The government has also removed some barriers to effective coordination between health and social care, while introducing measures to promote the financial viability of care providers. The pandemic presents unprecedented challenges that require well-co-coordinated responses across central and local government, health services, and non-government sectors.

KEYWORDS:

• Social care
• care needs
• family care
• COVID-19
• pandemic
• England

Key Points

• COVID-19 poses risks to the health and wellbeing of people with social care needs.

• It reduces the ability of families, friends, and social care staff to provide support.

• The availability and quality of care are at risk due to the pandemic.

• The UK government has introduced measures to assist social care providers.

• The challenges posed by COVID-19 require well-coordinated interagency responses.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1. Local government authorities in England are responsible for a wide range of services, including social care. Elected councilors are responsible for the overall direction of policy in each local authority. There are 152 local authorities in England with responsibilities for social care.

2. NHS Volunteer Responders has been set up to support the NHS and the care sector during the COVID-19 outbreak. The program enables volunteers to provide care or to help a vulnerable person. It includes Community Response Volunteers who deliver shopping, medication, or other essential supplies to the homes of people who are self-isolating and Check and Chat Volunteers providing short-term telephone support to individuals who are at risk of loneliness as a consequence of self-isolation. See https://www.goodsamapp.org/NHS.