‘Ensure care workers get flu jab’
Councils are being urged to make sure their health and social care colleagues get their free flu vaccination this year, as COVID-19 cases continue to rise.
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Social care winter plan
The Government has published its adult social care winter plan, setting out the ambitions and challenges for social care later this year, including key actions for councils, care providers, NHS England and national bodies.
Councils face imminent £2bn funding gap
Councils in England face a £2 billion funding gap in the current financial year and could be forced to cut services if the Government does not meet the cost of soaring COVID-19 spending, the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) has warned.
Obesity fuelling adult social care pressures
Weight-related stigmas need tackling to help prevent rising levels of obesity from having a significant impact on demand and cost pressures in adult social care, the LGA has warned in a new report.
Mental wellbeing ‘crucial’ to recovery planning
People’s mental wellbeing will play a crucial role in every aspect of recovery planning, the LGA has said in a new joint report with the Centre for Mental Health.
More localisation of Test and Trace
The NHS Test and Trace system in England will cut 6,000 staff by the end of August, with the remaining contact tracers working alongside councils’ public health teams to reach more infected people and their contacts in communities, the Government has announced.
‘Keep public participation at heart of planning’
The LGA has reiterated the need for new homes to be delivered through a planning system “with public participation at its heart”, after the Government announced proposals to reform the way the country builds.
Call for tougher licensing powers
The LGA has called for councils to be given tougher licensing powers to close down pubs and other licensed premises that are not following COVID-19 safety guidelines.
New health protection organisation launched
Public Health England (PHE) is being replaced by a new body, the National Institute for Health Protection, which will be focused on preparing for external threats such as pandemics.
Homelessness ‘will soar without support services’
A new report by the Salvation Army is calling on the Government to fund homelessness support services properly in this autumn’s Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR).