Adult Social Care 2021/22 key changes
We could not write a Local Account reflecting back on 2021/22 without mentioning the continued
impact Coronavirus (COVID-19) has had on the work of Adult Social Care and how we needed to
respond to national restrictions, vaccination requirements and continue to refine a blend of the use
of technology with face-to-face work.
2021/22 also saw the publication of Government proposals for Adult Social Care reform.
These included;
- 'Build Back Better’ plan for health and social care
- People at the Heart of Care: Adult Social Care reform White Paper
- Health and Care Act 2022 (which received Royal Assent in April 2022)
- White Paper on the integration of health and social care
- Consultation on Liberty Protection Safeguards (due to replace Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards DoLS)
Together, these introduce major reforms to Adult Social Care, with measures including further integration with health care, a cap on social care costs, changing charging thresholds, an intervention in the social care market intended to ensure local authorities pay a ‘fair price’ for care and the Care Quality Commission (CQC) being responsible for assessing Local Authorities’ delivery of their adult social care functions. These reforms will impact on the work of Adult Social Care over the years to come.
A year in the life of Adult Social Care - 2021/22
We start the year still in lockdown measures. On March 2021, care home residents can have one nominated visitor.
| Month/time | Event |
|---|---|
| 1 April | National Shielding programme comes to an end |
| 12 April | Care home guidance changes to allow 2 visitors to care home residents. |
| 17 May | Lockdown restriction ease, with indoor mixing allowed, pubs and restaurants re-opening. |
| 15 June | The Government announce that COVID vaccinations are to become mandatory for care home staff. |
| 18 June | All adults are eligible for the COVID vaccination |
| 21 July | All legal restrictions are lifted, including the re-opening of nightclubs, and the ending of wearing face masks. |
| 7 September | Build Back Better: Our plan for Health and Social Care is published. |
| 7 September | The Government produce plans to introduce a new health and social care levy which will be introduced in April 2023. |
| 16 September | The cut-off date for all care home staff to have had their first vaccination. |
| 11 November | All care home staff must have received 2 jabs unless exempt. In Coventry, 96% of care home staff have had their vaccination. |
| 1 December | Government publish People at the Heart of Care - White Paper which outlines a number of plans for social care reform. |
| 31 January | The Health Secretary announces the decision to abolish mandatory vaccinations. |
| 9 February | Government publish Joining Up Care for People and Populations - a White Paper outlining proposals around integration. |
| 1 March | Mandatory jabs for all healthcare workers are scrapped. |
| 17 March | Government launch consultation on the newly proposed Liberty Protection Safeguards. |