Decision details

On 15^th January 2021 the Department for Health & Social Care (DHSC) published details of the ADULT SOCIAL CARE (ASC) RAPID TESTING FUND.

This fund is to support ASC providers to conduct rapid flow device (RFD) tests for COVID-19, primarily in care homes.

Surrey County Council’s (SCC) funding allocation is £4.7m. This was paid to SCC on 21^st January 2021.

The key aspects of the fund are as follows:

·         Funding is for costs associated with Lateral Flow Device (LFD) testing only, incurred in the period 2^nd December 2020 – 31^st March 2021.

·         80% (£3.8m for Surrey) is ringfenced for rapid testing in care homes and must be distributed on a per bed basis within 10 working days of receipt of the funding.

·         20% (£0.9m for Surrey) is discretionary in terms of how it is allocated to ASC providers, although it can still only be spent on rapid testing in CQC registered ASC settings.

·         To be eligible to receive funding, ASC providers must complete the national capacity tracker at least weekly and also provide monthly expenditure returns to SCC.

SCC must complete a monthly return to DHSC setting out how much funding has been distributed and how much providers have spent the funding allocated to them. The timetable for this is aligned with the reporting requirements for Infection Control Fund round 2.

It was agreed that SCC would distribute all of Surrey’s Rapid Testing Fund, including the 20% discretionary element, to care homes who are compliant with the grant conditions based on the number of registered beds in each home.

To support COVID-19 infection control in ASC care homes across Surrey and ensure SCC is compliant with DHSC’s grant conditions.

SCC must spend the Rapid Testing Fund in line with the grant conditions and all funding must be fully spent by 31^st March 2021.

SCC could have chosen to distribute the 20% discretionary element differently, for instance holding this back and asking providers to submit requests evidencing their additional need.

However, given the seriousness of the current status of the pandemic, it is considered most appropriate to distribute 100% of the funding across all grant compliant care homes as quickly as possible.

None.