School Closures Tomorrow

Coronavirus (COVID-19) direct payments and personal budgets

three people in masks

Coronavirus testing

Changes to testing for COVID-19 in England - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

You are eligible for free tests if you're:

  • NHS patient-facing staff
  • staff who deliver NHS services through an independent healthcare provider, and have direct contact with NHS patients
  • a social worker
  • a personal assistant
  • a Shared Lives carer
  • a Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspector

If you work in care homes, domiciliary care, extra care and supported living services, and adult day care centres, you can also get free NHS tests. Find out more about free NHS tests if you work in adult social care on GOV.UK

Vaccinations

For information about covid vaccine and/or boosters:

Personal Protective Equiptment (PPE)

PPE remains free either until March 2023 or until guidance changes.

There is guidance on infection prevention and control:

COVID-19: infection prevention and control (IPC) - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

If you are a direct payment recipient, and/or a personal assistant, you are eligible for free PPE, you can complete our online form:

Sign-up form for the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Portal - Moving to the online PPE Portal: sectors currently distributed to via local authorities and local resilience forums - DH eXchange (kahootz.com)

Please highlight your current situation and PPE requirements and we will aim to assist. A typical pack of PPE would last 3 months.

The following groups can get free PPE from us:

  • domestic violence refuges
  • education (and childcare) services
  • local authority services (including children’s and adult social workers)
  • mental health community care
  • personal assistants
  • personal health budgets
  • rough sleeping services
  • unpaid carers
  • unregulated providers

General Coronavirus (Covid) Guidance

There is information on the GOV.UK website regarding the coronavirus (COVID-19). The webpages are updated regularly: Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Contingency Plan

It is important for you to have a contingency plan for your care needs, if you need support to do this or have specific queries about your care and support, please contact the  Adult Social Care Contact Team: - 01905 768053 - you will be redirected to the appropriate team as appropriate or email: AdultTeam@worcestershire.gov.uk

Direct Payment Support

You can contact the Adult Contact Team please call 01905 768053. or via the online Contact Form (worcestershire.gov.uk)

Alternatively, a new service has been commissioned to provide information advice and guidance on Direct payments, from Barrie Bookkeeping and Payroll Solutions (BBPS). They can be reached on: