Webinar recording: Social care PAs – the forgotten home care service during COVID-19

Recorded 28 September 2020

Home care is one of the sectors that the public has heard very little about during the crisis, despite its essential role in supporting adults of all ages. As part of Department of Health and Social Care’s COVID-19 action plan for social care, SCIE has worked with people who use home care, providers and commissioners to understand the impact of COVID-19 on the sector. This has included adaptations to practice and positive examples of partnership working.

Many adults and carers employ social care personal assistants (PAs) directly, and both employers and PAs struggled with finding relevant information, following the guidelines, and with balancing infection control with wellbeing and independence for individuals and families.

This webinar focuses on those who employ or work as PAs, their experiences, concerns and key lessons for the future. It will be organised round two presentations with opportunities for questions and discussion.

Panelists:

• Rebekah Luff, Chair, introduces the webinar and gives an overview of SCIE’s work on home care as part of the DHSC COVID-19 action plan for social care.
• Professor Jill Manthorpe gives an overview of three recent projects with PAs during COVID-19, including the recently published report, which included interview with 41 PAs.
• Ossie Stuart highlights the experiences and concerns of those who employed PAs during COVID-19.

Key messages and questions from the webinar will inform SCIE's resources for home care, as well as a report for DHSC.