£23m vaccine boost as deaths pass 100,000
The Government has allocated more than £23 million to 60 councils and voluntary groups across England to expand work to support those most at risk from COVID-19, and to boost vaccine take-up.
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Children locked down in temporary accommodation
The LGA has warned that around 450 primary schools’ worth of homeless children are spending lockdown in temporary accommodation, amid a chronic shortage of affordable housing.
£120m for social care staffing
The Government has announced an extra £120 million for councils to help tackle staffing issues in adult social care. The money can be used for additional care staff where shortages arise, support for administrative tasks so experienced and skilled staff can focus on providing care and help, and overtime payments or help with childcare costs so existing staff can take on extra hours, if they wish.
‘Review private equity role in care placements’
The LGA has urged the Government’s review of children’s social care to consider the impact of increasing private equity and stock market involvement in the system, after publishing new research that shows the six largest independent providers of placements made £219 million in profit last year.
Fire services ‘responded well’ to pandemic
Fire and rescue services have responded very well to the pandemic, with services maintaining their ability to respond to fires and many providing pandemic-specific support outside their statutory duties.
Building safety: testing review and new regulator
The Housing Secretary, Robert Jenrick MP, has announced the establishment of a new national construction products regulator to ensure homes are built using safe materials.
‘Rocket boost’ in funding needed to tackle children’s mental health
Damage to children’s mental health caused by the coronavirus crisis could last for years without a “rocket boost in funding” for children’s mental health services, the Children’s Commissioner for England has warned.
Mental health reforms ‘must ensure funding’
‘Landmark’ reforms of mental health laws must also ensure ongoing funding for councils’ mental health services, the LGA has said.
‘Lessons to be learned’ on rough sleeping
The number of rough sleepers accommodated during the ‘Everyone in’ initiative over several months “far exceeds” the number recorded in the Government’s annual national snapshot of the rough sleeper population, according to a report by the National Audit Office (NAO).
New funding to tackle drugs crime
An extra £80 million is to be invested in drug treatment services across England to give more support to offenders with drink and drug addictions, as part of an overall £148 million package to cut crime and protect people from the menace of illegal drugs.