Technical Notes 2021, Issues 203 - Coronavirus (COVID-19) – Service Updates (21 December)

Property Maintenance

Gas Safety inspections are ongoing and we continue to closely monitor inspections to ensure ongoing compliance across the housing stock with all properties having their annual service carried out within the anniversary date.

Progress continues on reducing the number of void properties with the implementation of improvement measures having a positive impact on operations as we continue to look at ways of improving service delivery in this area. All reactive repairs are ongoing and we continue to make good progress in addressing the backlog of non-essential repairs although this aspect of the service may need to be paused if further restrictions are applied, with a move back to delivering emergency and essential repairs only being a possibility. The Care & Repair service is ongoing across the area and has been well received since it's recent resumption. 

Aids & Adaptation works continue with good progress in the completion of these works. The Smoke and Heat detector installation programme is ongoing across the estate as we remain on track to achieve the Government target date of February 2022 for completion. Kitchen, Bathroom and Heating upgrade programmes remain hold and will remain on until it is safe and practicable to reintroduce these multi-trade works.

Roofing replacement works are ongoing as we continue to liaise with suppliers on the supply of materials for these works. Progress continues in carrying out reactive and larger scale refurbishment works across the education and non-housing stock with decoration works ongoing in the school estate.

Fixed CO2 detectors have been installed throughout the school estate, with monitoring of levels being undertaken to determine where there are challenges with the level of ventilation in specific areas to ensure appropriate interventions are undertaken to address any concerns. East Dunbartonshire Council is the only Local Authority in Scotland to install fixed detectors throughout their estate.

Facilities Management
The rollout of the new FM structure continues with significant progression, including the filling of vacant roles, expected in early 2022. The majority of the FM Management team has now been recruited with 2 posts remaining to be filled.

All staff continue to support the COVID response, ensuring buildings are open, clean and safe for all stakeholders.

With the expansion of free school meals to Primary 4 and 5 pupils (P4 in August ‘21, P5 from January ‘22), the service has identified additional catering resources and equipment required to deliver this. The rollout to P4 has been successful, with the rollout to P5 due to progress immediately following the festive period.

Estates

The Estates service continues to maintain the operational and non-operational estates. Priority has been given to ensuring the estate is compliant with current legislation with that work unaffected by the current pandemic.

Viewings of commercial property are paused at this time with online viewings promoted instead.

Development & Investment

All major projects and housing projects continue on site and remain on programme at present however further restrictions may impact this position. No formal notice received that would confirm a delay to any projects at present.

Recruitment of staff to support the delivery of 3 major school refurbishments and new Balmuildy PS build has completed with new Project Managers to be in post late Jan/early Feb 2022. All projects remain on programme at this time.

Homelessness & Prevention

Homeless numbers in the area remain relatively low; to date 209 households have made a homelessness application since April 2021.  This is an increase in comparison to last year; 180 applicants had made a homeless application during Quarter 3. (Pre-covid the average applications in the first three quarters was 336).

There are currently only 135 households awaiting an offer of settled accommodation, only 2% have been waiting longer than 3 years (in previous years an average of 400 households were awaiting on an offer with approximately 25% waiting longer than 3 years).

Demand for emergency/temporary accommodation is also low.  There are no households in Bed & Breakfast and the Council has not breached the Unsuitable Accommodation Order this year.

In the last 4 weeks, the team has supported 8 households to move to the private sector via the Councils Rent Deposit Guarantee/Private Sector Scheme.  This takes pressure off the use of settled accommodation and temporary accommodation stock.

Project 101 (Youth Homelessness Service) Christmas Advent

On the 1st December 2021 Project 101 was visited by a special guest!

 "Elfie" has been busy each day updating the project's face book page with a different message and/or competition each day.  As well as providing information about Project 101 and support available from partner services/agencies he has been busy providing some useful tips to the young people i.e. food hygiene, fire safety, budgeting, employment, health and well-being.

Although face to face cooking lessons are currently suspended, he has been sharing recipes and making his own soup in the Project 101's kitchen.  Soup packs have been distributed for the young people to make their soup at home. To date 12 soup packs have been collected.

COVID19 Tenant Hardship Grant

During October 2021. the Homelessness & Prevention Team were awarded £105k from the Scottish Government to prevent tenants in the social and private sector who have accrued rent arrears as a direct result of COVID19 from becoming homeless. 

To date:

- 22 referrals have been received

- 21 awards have been given (£22,730)

- Of the 21 awards

            - 13 EDC tenants

            - 7 Housing Association tenants

            - 1 Private Sector Tenant

Further information on how to apply for the grant is available by emailing homelessness@eastdunbarton.gov.uk

Festive out of hours

The Homelessness & Prevention Team will provide an emergency only service over the festive season. Emergency/temporary accommodation has been identified/set up should households need it over the festive season.  The team can be contacted via 0300 123 4510.

Housing Operations
The Team continues to work closely with Property Maintenance to ensure void properties are turned around as quickly as possible.  There are 41 properties with the void team currently undergoing empty house repairs.  Since April 2021, a total of 248 new tenancies have been created, this figure includes 59 new build properties at the Tom Johnston Place site.  Terminations have been received for a further 10 properties which are due to become available for allocation within the next 28 days.   5 properties which were purchased from the open market have been allocated since April 2021 and a further 3 properties (awaiting repairs) have been offered to applicants from the housing list.

The team also continues to work closely with Housing Associations in the area to provide nominations for void and new build properties in this sector. 99 new tenancies have been created since April 2021 as a result of nominations from the housing list to housing associations.  This figure includes 68 new build properties within Link Housing Association's stock at Broomhill, Kirkintilloch (57 properties) and Jellyhill, Bishopbriggs (3 properties) and a further 8 flats in Milngavie owned by Sanctuary Housing Association.

Work has started on the process of making provisional offers to the successful applicants for the 26 new build properties at Blacklands, Lenzie which are expected to be released from the builders in February/March 2022. The remaining 22 properties at the Tom Johnston Place site will be allocated by end January 2022.  Offers have also been made for the 6 amenity properties at Blackthorn Grove, the new tenants are expected to take up for residence in January 2022. 

There have been 43 new anti-social behaviour cases raised since the start of the financial year and the Estates Team continue to work closely, including chairing monthly meetings, with Police Scotland, Social Work and the Community Safety Team to deal with these cases along with noise complaints received of a more serious nature.  In relation to anti-social behaviour - 1 tenancy has recently been converted to a Short Scottish Secure Tenancy (SSST) - converted in line with legislation and with assistance from Legal Services.

Rents & TP

The Rents Team continue to engage with tenants to ensure rental income is being maximised. Advice and support continues to be offered to tenants whose circumstances have changed as a result of the pandemic or they are struggling to pay their rent.  A Hardship fund is now in place to assist tenants who have accrued arrears due to circumstances outwith their control, with 43 households having now received awards. However, there continue to be tenants who do not pay and/or engage. Escalation actions to reduce arrears are fully operational now, except for face to face meetings and home visits. Legal action has also now resumed with the first cases calling during January 2022. The rents team continue to support and assist as many tenants as they can with UC claims/verifications. DHP claims, putting affordable agreements in place and also referring to CAB where required; all to ensure that income is maximised where possible. Currently there are a number of vacancies within the team with recruitment ongoing. Rent arrears are currently £1,617,050, which is an increase of £162k on the same week as last year (week 36).

Tenant Participation

The next online TPWG meeting will be held on Thursday 27 January 2022. The latest issue of the Taking Part newsletter was issued to all tenants in early December, which also included a questionnaire inviting tenants to give their views as part of the annual rent setting consultation.   

Systems & Policy

The Team is continuing to develop the new Local Housing Strategy (2022-2027) - conference set for the 19th January ‘22 to set objectives. IHMS tender award is almost concluded - ironing out final aspects of contract (Phase 1 of system implemented for summer 2023). The Policy team continue to review policy and procedures – allocations policy due in 2022.

Liaising with HSCP regarding Telecare digital migration issues - Wardens (Sheltered Housing) and concierge service in the process of moving from HSCP and FM to Housing.

Business Support

Following the updated public health guidance in respect of the Omicron Covid-19 variant, businesses across the hospitality sector have seen a significant number of event cancellations and fall in booking numbers.

The Scottish Government has identified £100m of budget to provide a limited level of financial support to businesses. £34m will be used to support the creative / cultural, wholesale food & drink, wedding and events sectors and will not be delivered by local authorities. The Scottish Government has proposed that it will provide local authorities with the remaining £66m of this budget to support businesses in the hospitality sector who have been affected by the resulting drop in their December trade.

Details provided to date suggest the grants will provide a single one-off payment to businesses of £4,500 (Rateable Value (RV) less than £51k) or £6,800 (RV over £51k) for the following businesses:

• public houses,

• restaurants,

• cafes,

• other licensed premises classed as hospitality

• nightclubs

• hotels with bars and restaurant

Officers are now awaiting further details on the grant requirements including final guidance documents with details of the scheme and on the basis that these are received timeously from the Scottish Government will start contacting businesses as soon as possible with a view to arrange grant payments in January.

Communications will be prepared and made available on Business support.website to help minimise the number of enquiries being made to local authorities, and to make it clear to businesses that payments will be made in January.  The Council will signpost to this via social media.  The Scottish Government is also working with local authorities to support the development of an online application and enquiry process which will help minimise additional demands on councils.

Land Planning Policy, Sustainability Policy, GIS, City Deal, Traffic and Transport and Town Centres and Regeneration Teams.

Officers continue to work from home and deliver any required consultation or stakeholder engagement virtually. 

Development Applications

The Development Applications Teams will continue to work to approved and agreed risk assessed protocols which will allow unaccompanied site visits where alternative evidence is not sufficient and reflecting the updated Scottish Government “safer businesses & workplace” guidance.  As usual, Building Standards will be on call in the event of a dangerous building or structure via the normal channels during the festive break.  All other LP&D Services will close for the festive period until the 5th January.

WASTE SERVICES

Household Collections & Festive arrangements

The Waste service continues to deliver all services in line with collection schedules, with demands remaining consistent in the lead up to the festive period.

For residents who receive a collection on a Saturday (Christmas Day and New Year’s Day) or Sunday (Boxing Day and January 2), refuse and recycling collections will be running two days later on the Monday and Tuesday respectively. The Waste team will be working until 9pm on these days and delays are expected so residents have been asked to leave their bin on the pavement until collection has taken place. Collections on all other days will remain the same.

Normal collection days will resume on Wednesday 5 January 2022. Residents should ensure their bins and food caddies are out on the kerbside the night before the relevant collection day as collections may be earlier than usual.

Christmas Tree recycling and Green Waste Collection in January

The Service will undertake a one off Garden Waste uplift from the 17th - 23rd of January for residents requiring a collection. The service has also arranged for Skips to be placed at three locations across the district to allow residents to recycle real Christmas trees after the festive period. From Wednesday 5 January 2022 householders can dispose of real trees in a skip at these locations:

• William Patrick Library car park, Kirkintilloch
• Mavis Valley Recycling Centre, Bishopbriggs
• West of Scotland Rugby Club car park, Milngavie

Bulky Collections (Special Uplifts)

The Waste team continues to deliver the Special uplift service in line with requests and demand however delays are inevitable due to ongoing resource challenges. The team continue to monitor and will allocate resources as availability improves.      

Bin Deliveries

The service continues to work through requests for replacement bins however some bins are taking considerably longer to ship from suppliers which is having a major impact on timescales. Priority is given to residual bin deliveries and the team continue to work through all requests as stocks become available. 

Mavis Valley Recycling Centre

The Mavis Valley Recycling Centre site will be closed on Christmas Day and Boxing Day and on 1 and 2 January 2022. It is operating on an appointment only basis for cars and vans with bookings available. Normal winter opening hours are in operation at the facility.

Recycling Banks & Bring Sites

The council have experienced challenges recently with the contractor who services the recycling bring sites across the authority. This has led to complaints from residents due to poor levels of service provided. The contractor has now served notice that they can no longer fulfil this need and have withdrawn from this service. Officers are currently working with the procurement team in order to procure a new contractor for this work.

In the interim, the team has engaged a local contractor to attend this week to empty the banks across the area, we have also scheduled the contractor to return following the festive period. The Waste and Streetscene teams will continue to visit the locations on a regular basis in order to clear and collect excess materials as required.

FLEET SERVICES

Fleet Management

The service continues to manage the legal operation of the Councils fleet including compliance with the Goods Vehicle Operators licence, Drivers hours’ management and maintenance regimes. Officers continue to progress work on the fleet replacement Capital Programme for all services. Work is progressing through procurement for tenders and orders for new vehicles due for delivery into 2022/2023 financial year.  The team continues to progress the de-fleet and disposal of outgoing fleet assets in line with the replacement programme.

Fleet Maintenance

The fleet workshops based at the Hilton depot continue to service and maintain all front line Operational fleet vehicles and plant on a rotational shift basis. The service is currently working to meet significant demands for ongoing maintenance and remedial works in support of front line operations. The team continue to prioritise all work based on available staff and the greatest needs in order to deliver through these challenging times.  Fleet personnel will be working throughout the festive period in order to deal with maintenance and emergencies for all operational fleet through this time.

Transport Operations

The team continue to support colleagues in Education, HSCP and Facilities Management for Transport activities associated with ASN School Transport, day services  and meal deliveries across the Authority. The team also continue to manage vehicle and plant hire activities which have increased significantly over the year, as a consequence of revised working arrangements for services, in delivering through the pandemic response.

Environmental Health Team

Rapid community transmission of the new Omicron variant of Covid-19 over recent weeks has prioritised Covid-related work once again after a period of resuming normal statutory responsibilities in service delivery.  In the past two weeks there have been significant case numbers and clusters for the service to respond to and this work continues to create a huge additional demand for Environmental Health Officers particularly as proactive food safety inspections resumed in October. The team are working with Education colleagues to assist contact tracing within school settings in liaison with health board colleagues through local Problem Assessment Groups (PAG’s) and Incident Management Teams (IMT’s). 

The service is also being advised of local East Dunbartonshire clusters within occupational settings that require investigation to ensure the adequate mitigation measures are being put in place by businesses to prevent virus transmission.  To this end, the service takes part in additional meetings with Health Board colleagues to agree investigation plans and protocols. 

Comprehensive visits to local businesses to monitor Covid-19 compliance and mitigation measures will continue to be delivered by the service's Public Health Compliance Officers.  Recent focus has been on the hospitality trade in the run up to Christmas.

Other routine business regulation work is ongoing as is environmental regulation and public health investigations.  The team are also statutory consultees for relevant incoming Planning, Public Entertainment and Occasional Licence applications, thus the ongoing Covid-19 work continues to add to the remit delivered by the service.

Trading Standards Team

Increases in community transmission as a result of the Omicron variant have already resulted in amendments to the Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Requirements) (Scotland) Regulations 2021 – with some additional restrictions already being implemented and further restrictions likely over coming weeks.

Officers from Trading Standards will therefore need to be available to respond to enquiries and engage with local businesses in relation to the latest requirements. Programmes of visits to monitor compliance and mitigation measures at premises in certain sectors (dovetailing with any work being delivered by colleagues in the Environmental Health Team) are also likely to be required.

In light of the position with the emerging variant, plans to recommence some routine inspection and project work have been scaled back for the moment – with Covid-19 and other essential work taking priority. Visits to trade premises and domestic dwellings are now only being carried out where absolutely required, with officers working from home as much as possible.

The pandemic has resulted in an increase in workload in the areas of home improvement complaints, scam prevention, product safety and fair trading. Unfortunately there has been a surge in the number of Coronavirus scams circulating via email, Facebook and text messages. Working closely with the Corporate Communications team Trading Standards are posting regular warnings on social media to alert residents. The Team also continues to receive a number of complaints relating to bogus workers and Operation Skipjack work in conjunction with colleagues from Police Scotland is on-going.

The Team's Fair Trading Officers have been providing advice to consumers and traders in relation to contractual disputes.  Many of these instances have arisen as a consequence of the coronavirus restrictions impacting on performance of contracts, particularly in relation to home improvement works. This has resulted in a significant rise in complaints that can't be easily resolved, in part due to the problem of tracing and identifying traders from out with East Dunbartonshire. Officers have therefore started to actively look at the introduction of a trusted trader scheme for local residents.

Community Safety Team

The Community Safety Team continues to undertake a broad range of frontline work for the benefit of local communities, with service delivery activities meeting the requirements of the latest Covid-19 restrictions that are currently in place. Core activities include decriminalised parking enforcement and investigation of fly-tipping, dog fouling, littering and control of dogs incidents. A full pest control service is also being provided including the monitoring of all permanent bait sites. 

Essential patrols in relation to environmental incivility breaches as well as antisocial behaviour and youth disorder patrols in and around identified issue areas are being delivered and mobile CCTV cameras will continue to be deployed as required in conjunction and agreement with colleagues in Police Scotland. Festive safety is a priority at the moment, with the Community Wardens delivering additional patrols across the area throughout December as part of the Council’s Festive Safety Campaign (assisting the public, providing reassurance, deterring crime, supporting businesses, and helping to keep the streets safe).

The Team also continues to provide a remote service in terms of neighbour complaints/disputes, providing advice by phone and email and liaising regularly with colleagues in other services including Housing, Social Work and Police Scotland.  As part of this the team will continue to carry out antisocial behaviour visits in the most serious of cases in order to tackle the significant increase in the number of complaints that have been received in recent months, however, alternatives means are still being utilised wherever possible with face to face visits only being carried out where absolutely essential. 

Given recent announcements on Covid-19 and the subsequent tightening of restrictions, it is likely that the recently re-commenced mediation service in relation to neighbour disputes will be impacted for a period of time.  The provisional re-start date for the ASB Domestic Night Noise Service that is normally delivered by the Team is also likely to be impacted, but this will be assessed on an ongoing basis early in 2022. 

Community Planning and Partnerships Team

We continue to work in partnership with local communities developing community-led Locality Plans. Working in partnership with colleagues from EDVA and East Dunbartonshire HSCP, the Team has embarked on a 12-week consultation period to review and refresh our Place Plans (Locality Plans) for our most deprived communities of Auchinairn, Hillhead & Harestanes, Lennoxtown and Twechar.  A soft launch has been hosted in Auchinairn, Lennoxtown, Twechar, and Hillhead and Harestanes is planned for 21 December 2021.  Officers have developed a comprehensive engagement and communication plan to raise awareness and support active meaningful participation.  To support wider participation, ensuring those with quietest voices are heard a ‘blether-box’ tool-kit has been developed. A series of interactive awareness sessions have been delivered.  By working collaboratively together we will bridge the gaps and the survey will help shape the new plans.  To access the survey, please follow link by completing the survey.  

Find out more about the Locality Plans.

Within the Team, we are working collaboratively with colleagues to deliver our corporate Equality Outcomes and connecting with equality groups, ensuring we provide timely and appropriate platforms for the lived experience voice to be heard, supporting and enabling participation in appropriate platforms.

Officers continue to monitor the strategic partnership agreements, and raise awareness including offering guidance and support to community groups in preparation for our community grant scheme round 2 opening on 28th January 2022.

We continue to provide personalised individualised wrap around support to the four VPRS families resettled into East Dunbartonshire.  We are in year 4 of 5.  We are working alongside the families to develop an agreed ending of the specialist resettlement support, however, there will be processes in place to collaboratively assess if continued support is required post year 5 (approximately September 2022).  And if required, appropriate referrals, signposting and connection will be facilitated. The families have settled into the community, engaging in ESOL provision, local community activities and school life.

Through our strategic working group, we are developing and formalising the procedural framework, which includes identification of resources.  In preparation for welcoming new families in the Afghan Relocation and Assistance Scheme (ARAS) and Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS) and connecting with East Dunbartonshire Welcomes Refugees.

Officers continue to work with strategic partners to raise awareness of the consultation on the draft Community Learning & Development Plan 2021-24 and working collaboratively with partners deliver the actions identified in East Dunbartonshire Child Poverty Report and Action Plan 2021-22.

Community Testing and Vaccination Support Team

Asymptomatic Testing Centre

• Increase in the LFD kits issued at the ATS. Last week there was a 350% increase in the LDF home kits issued. 
• Increase in the LFD kits issued on the bus
• A delivery has been received from the NSS and we are able to distribute LFD kits to enable all the residents to access LFD kits to ensure that they are able to test as per Scottish Government Guideline, including hard to reach communities, including those with persistent transmission.
• EDC has been able to provide 50 boxes of LFD to the HSCP to enable the Care at Home Services to meet the staff  daily testing requirement set by the Scottish Government Guidelines
• Test kits have been issued to:-

                         Bishopbriggs Community Hub

                         Kirkintilloch Community Hub

                         Bearsden Community Hub

                         Lennxotown Community Hub

                        Leisuredrome

                        Kirkintilloch Leisure Centre

                        Allander Leisure Centre

                        Kirkintilloch Vaccination Centre

                        Milngavie Vaccination Centre

                       Auchinairn Community Centre

                       Hillhead Community Centre

                       Twechar Community Centre

Vaccination Centres

Additional Clinics have taken place as follows:-

       Kirkintilloch Town Hall 7th December and 19th December

       Milngavie Town Hall    8th and 15th December

Available NHS vaccinator number continue to be a challenge, which has on occasions led to a 2-hour wait for an appointment. On Sunday 19th December Kirkintilloch Town Hall was the only 'drop in' in GGC, the maximum wait time was 3 hours which was reduced to 30 minutes when more vaccinators from other areas came to assist at Kirkintilloch Town Hall

The vaccination centres are open over the festive period;

29 December 2021 -   Kirkintilloch Town Hall 8.30 - 19.30                                                                                             

30 December 2021 -   Milngavie Town Hall 10.00 - 12.00

There has been an all EDC Bulletin request for staff to volunteer to steward at the Vaccination Centre

The priority over the next 2 weeks will be to maintain LFD kits at all sites and that any changes to the GGC NHS Board vaccination schedule can be accommodated locally. Regular meetings and communications take place with partners from NHS and Scottish Government on both testing and vaccination.

Care for People

The Care for People agenda and isolation support role has been stood up over the festive period.

This response involves key relationships with EDVA, OPAL Helpline and the 3 Community Response Groups that operate across East Dunbartonshire. The important role of these third sector and volunteer networks in providing support for shopping assistance, prescription delivery, transport for appointments, together with a range of ad hoc services, is well appreciated and now established across the authority.

The ED Foodbank has festive hours opening at the 4 locations for provision of food support. Information on the above, and also for access to grant provision and emergency funds is available through National Assistance Line ( locally answered by council employees in Services) and also by Revenues and Benefits colleagues who support and organise the distribution of the Self Isolation grants and also Scottish Welfare Fund etc.

EDC website is regularly updated with covid response and Care for People information and services available.

Roads Network Operations

The majority of operational tasks will cease over the festive period with the exception of emergency and essential tasks on working days.

The emergency stand-by rota covering Winter Maintenance and Flooding will continue throughout the same period with coverage on all days.

The on duty Winter Controller will monitor the weather and temperature forecasts throughout this period and call out the staff as required.

Roads Technical & Engineering

All office-based staff will continue to work remotely on working days with some staff taking the option of annual leave over the festive period. However, there is still a requirement to authorise and track work of an emergency nature.

The Bridge, Structures and Flood/Drainage Officers continue to liaise with contractors if emergency situations arise over the festive period.

Streetscene Technical Support

All office-based staff will continue to work remotely on working days with some staff taking the option of annual leave over the festive period.

The Bereavement Officer continues to work with Registrars and Streetscene Operational colleagues to programme in burials and complete the associated paperwork on the working days over the festive period.

Mugdock Country Park

The Park is open every day apart from Christmas Day and traditionally New Year’s Day is one of the busiest day of the year.

In addition, the new Mugdock Strategy visitor survey is now available online and will be open for responses until 17th January 2022.

The Panto 'Snow White and the Teeny Weeny McTitchies' is showing until 28 Dec with additional measures in place for cleaning, ventilation and social distancing.  Anyone not attending the performance is offered an online version to view from their home.

Please note that the Visitor Centre has moved to the Courtyard and has seen an increase in gift shop sales, in particular hats, gloves and scarves.

Working with a local company, 100 hazel and holly trees have been donated along with tree guards and stakes;

Finally, the Park's winter weather plan is in place to deal with seasonal weather issues as they arise

Streetscene Operations

Please note that Cemetery and Streetscene Operations Staff continue to prepare for and undertake burials throughout the working days of the festive period as required.

The teams will also continue all Street Cleansing duties including litter bins, public recycling, removal of fly tipping, flood prevention (clearing culverts/trash screens), and grit access to Vaccine Centres, Cemeteries, Parks and Play Area Inspections.

In addition, Operational staff will continue to respond to any issue that is deemed an emergency or essential on working days and via the seasonal stand-by rota on non-working days.

Management Team

Continue to liaise with CMT/Civil Contingencies Officers to monitor and coordinate resources in response to any emerging issues over the festive period.

All Primary, Secondary and ASN schools close for the festive period on Tuesday 21st December, with the exception of Early Years extended year centres, which close on 24th December 2021. All centres and schools reopen on Wednesday 5th January 2022.

Updated guidance from Scottish Government was issued to schools, centres and childminders on Friday 17th December. Health and Safety will work with Education to update the EDC guidance to ensure our risk assessments are in line with Scottish Government guidance and a Head Teacher briefing session will take place with all school in the first week of term.

The guidance: 

There are four main elements to the changes in the guidance:

Return of groupings (paragraphs 25-27)

The guidance reintroduces the requirement for groupings or ‘bubbles’ indoors. This was recommended by the scientific sub-group as an approach to minimising contacts.  The language used in the parental letters for ‘low risk’ contacts has been firmed up on the encouragement to use a Lateral Flow test before returning to school in a way that brings it more in line with the advice to secondary age pupils.

Non-essential school visitors (paragraphs 28-35)

There is a tightening up of who may and may not come into school premises.  This mitigation is different to the catch-all instruction that was in place previously.  It is important for schools to continue to have access to specialist support required by pupils such as educational psychologists, speech and language, etc.  This has been included in the guidance.  The position now is that professional visitors are permitted with relevant risk assessment as are parents when agreed in advance and necessary to support pupils.  Parent Councils and PTAs should not take place in schools, as has been the case previously in EDC. 

Ventilation (paragraphs 36-45 and annex A, paragraphs 28-82)

The section on ventilation has been strengthened and clarified.  This is in the main guidance paper in paragraphs 36-45 and is more substantially set out in Annex A (pages 32-38 of the attached document).  It sets out an expectation of regular assessment of CO2 levels and appropriate remedial action when problems are identified.  There are clear expectations on the use of CO2 monitoring of learning spaces, and East Dunbartonshire already fully comply with this, being seen as a leader in out monitoring and actions taken on analysis and actions of air quality within schools.

Voluntary ending of isolation for staff in households with a confirmed Covid case (paragraph 85-94)

Staff working within Education can return to their place of work, following a negative PCR – there is not a requirement to self isolate for 10 days. The guidance places a greater emphasis on the individual wishing to return and is not mandatory. EDC would always place the wellbeing of staff at the heart of decision-making.  

Guidance on outdoor education and excursions will be updated within enhanced mitigations. This was revised to allow more mixing and greater travel time to destinations, however, it is clear that this will not be the case for the time-being and this will remain under review, in line with updated guidance.

SQA examinations will continue at present until we have more advice on this matter. Prelims have gone ahead for some secondary schools already and some are planned for in return in January. At present this situation will not change.

Business & Digital Change

The Business & Digital Change Team continues to lead the delivery of a range of multi-disciplinary projects across the Council.  The Team is currently focused on supporting business as usual work insofar as that is possible.  It continues to play a key role in supporting a number of key corporate projects including the new Integrated Housing Management System and upgrades to the I-trent HR/payroll system and the implementation of M365 across the organisation.  In previous outbreaks of COVID, the Team played an important role in obtaining and supporting installation of key systems e.g. webex and Helping Hands.  This included user protocols, guidance and training and undertaking privacy impact assessments with the support of the Information Management Team.  The Team is ready to support services and the wider Council in response to the current Omicron variant as required – any such support may have an impact on the day to day work and so matters will be prioritised accordingly

Health & Safety Team

COVID-19 response

The team has been focusing on supporting the COVID response by:

-     Conducting COVID-outbreak investigations and H&S assurance visits alongside Environmental Health and Education Officers

-     Set-up of cloud based system and management of CO2 monitoring in schools for every classroom in East Dunbartonshire.

-     Liaising with external early years providers and out of school clubs to deliver portable CO2 monitors to each provider in East Dunbartonshire with instructions on how to set up and assess spaces used for children activities.

-     Conducting ventilation assessments in areas of concerns, including CO2 and ventilation rates

-     Creating easy to use templates for activities within school to manage COVID risks

-     Reviewing COVID-19 guidelines and adapting to Council services per sector including the update of COVID risk assessments for services

-     COVID training provided to services such as Property Maintenance to support capital works using work cohorts

-     Set-up of Lateral Flow tests provision for services operating from Broomhill.

-     Assisting the vaccination and asymptomatic testing team and sites

-     Managing Broomhill depot attendance and COVID controls adherence

-     Carrying out pregnancy risk assessments in light of Covid risks and individual risk assessments for staff returning and continuing to remain at work safely.

-     Answering queries and assisting HR with isolation cases and determining additional controls where required.  Reviewing all staff positive and isolation cases

-     Out of hours COVID line response

-     Ability to carry out face fit testing on staff for FFP3 facemasks if required by services, including HSCP.

The team has also been focusing on delivering the Occupational Health Programme, with Health Surveillance for all Council services where it is required, and 85% of the programme has been completed.  A Hearing Conservation programme has been created to support baseline findings with a schedule of noise dosimetry initiated to determine exposure levels across the Council.  The control of vibration at work is now substantially supported by HAV wear technology.

Health and safety assessments of areas and workplaces with newly acquired instruments such as dosimeters, noise meters and ventilation monitors are also being completed.  The team continues to work on a new management system for all high-risk areas identified and create procedures in line with current health and safety legislation and approved codes of practice.  A CDM contractor management system is being finalised for approval as well a new gas policy and emergency procedures.  Along with School Improvement manager, the team continues to assist visits where a safety input is required for additional or reasonable adjustments for staff and children and with Assets and Estates, for the management of contractors.  The team continues working with the ever changing roles within services such as Community Protection, to identify, assess and manage health and safety requirements.  The fire safety team continues to asses all council premises and issue fire safety risk assessment under PAS79 format for all operational and commercial establishments with continued focus on schools and residential units.

Human Resources & Organisational Development

Trades Unions engagement continues on a weekly basis and has been focused on strategic issues such as targeted vaccination updates, risk assessments in returning services to capacity following lock down and required actions to respond to the relaxation of COVID restrictions.  Additional meetings are being scheduled as required, in order to keep TU colleagues updated on the impact of the Omicron variant on the Council and its workforce.  Supported by the HR Business Partners, implementation of service reviews continue with the Education Review (Support Roles) commencing and the Facilities Management (FM) concluding - with outcomes of this review intended to be issued in early January 2022.

The HR Operations team continues to work on concluding discipline and grievance cases as timely as possible whilst always ensuring early intervention and informal resolution principles apply.

The HR&OD team continues to receive daily calls on COVID reporting for various circumstances.  Numbers of contacts have and continue to increase in light of the highly infectious nature of omicron variant.  The implementation of a 7 day cover rota remains in place and will be continued across the holiday period.  Advice and guidance to employees and managers on COVID related issues and absences continue to be supported by the HR&OD and H&S teams.  As cases increase within the staff community, this places more demand on the team in terms of recording data, along with the internal and external reporting requirements, taking the team away from core activities.

The Payroll Team and Employee Services have delivered December pay dates, which included forecasting due to the festive break.  Both of these teams have been working on testing the system to allow for the implementation of the agreed 2021 Pay Award for Local Government Employees and Chief Officers.  Significant work is involved in processing a Pay Award, however the Council is on target for employees to receive the pay award, to include the backdated element, at the end of January / beginning of February 2022.  National negotiations are ongoing in relation to the 2021 Teacher Pay Award.

Over the past 2 years, there has been an increase in the number of adverts by over 30%, most of which can be attributed to the increased number of posts across the Council in relation to COVID.  With the increase in number of posts being advertised, the number of appointments has doubled over the same 2 year period.  With services requiring a timely turnaround on candidates being started, this put demands on the recruitment and appointments process, with the team working with managers and services to address.

Work continues to enhance the Employee Zone pages with updates and additions to the Wellbeing page to reflect Healthy Working Lives campaigns going forward.  Detailed scrutiny of the absence performance across all services continues with engagement taking place to understand required support and actions for improvement.

Moving and Handling (M&H) training is a key requirement within Education and the HSCP.  With in house delivery, a number of sessions have been successfully delivered between Oct-Dec 2021.  Subject to COVID restrictions, further sessions are due for delivery from January 2022. 

Procurement Team

The Procurement Team continues to support tender and contract requirements across all services with significant workstreams around major assets, City Deal, Property Maintenance contracts, Community/Employability Grant applications and other needs across services such as Education, Housing, Business & Digital Change Projects, and Roads.  Renewal and award of various contracts continue with various key ICT system requirements being progressed at this time.

The team continues to monitor supply chains for PPE stocks and other critical supplies.  The operating arrangements and support to services have been updated for all services to ensure sufficient supplies and emergency procedures where required.  PPE demand is monitored from the Stores location, and is managed/facilitated by the Procurement team.  Work will continue to support Services during the Christmas period.  Procurement continues to work with Health & Safety on key contractual requirements, risk assessments and method statements in light of the updates from the Omicron strain.  Engagement with key suppliers for monitoring continuity of supply for front line service teams is ongoing.

The Procurement Team is also currently supporting key work streams, these include New Build Housing Projects, City Deal, the new Integrated Housing Management System, Managed Stores, Transport Service arrangements, Remote Digital Solutions for Education, Town Centre CCTV, Pandemic Support Payments and Supplier/Partner provider support in line with COSLA guidance.

Contract Standing Orders are currently being reviewed in alignment to the Council Administrative Scheme update and will be reported to Council in the new year.

The team is currently processing the Free School Meal Payments for the period of the Christmas School closure and is supporting ongoing applications in line with Scottish Government Guidance.  New applications for School Clothing Grants & Free School Meals for the 2021-2022 School Terms are also being supported by the Team.  Financial tracking of costs for Free School Meals, Hardship and Isolation Payments is ongoing, and associated Grant claims to Scottish Government are being submitted.

Pandemic Support Payments and Hospitality Grants will continue to be processed via the Procurement Support team to support Scottish Government payment requirements.  Prioritised processes for invoices and grant payments are currently in progress and resources aligned to support the increased demand on the Procurement Support Team.

The Procurement Team has struggled to fill existing vacancies given competition from other organisations and the sector shortage of experienced/qualified Public Sector procurement officers.  There have been further resignations in recent weeks and so existing vacancies are currently being re-advertised.  The national sector-wide shortage and its implications has been raised at Scottish Government level through the Scottish Local Government Procurement Forum (SLGPF).  Meantime, work is ongoing to identify options to address resource gaps.

Social Work - Planning & Service Development Team  (P&D)

Market fragility across Care at Home and Care Home sectors is widely acknowledge and further exacerbated by the Omicrom variant.  On-going work force issues – including recruitment & retention, increasing absences, isolation requirements and impact on services is beginning to take hold and requires P&D to increase its daily oversight / management of the market to ensure there is no / minimal service disruption.

The national requirement to increase commissioned care staff pay to £10.02 – backdated to 1st December 2021, is resource and time intensive, not only for P&D, but also for Legal and Finance colleagues who are working collectively with P&D to support implementation.  Due to the protracted process involved in delivering this requirement, it is expected payments will be made late January / February 2022.  It is worth noting that this is in line with most other authorities.

Late last week, the Chief Executive of NHSGGC requested an Emergency Discharge Plan to help facilitate local discharges over the next few weeks.  The Plan, which is currently being finalised, includes the potential commissioning of 15 care home beds (subject to approval), on a short term block contract basis.  Given the timescales and work involved, this work has/ will continue to place additional pressure and strain on the P&D team. 

Other new / key work streams for P&D include co-ordinating mop-up booster testing, liaising with the market re LFT capacity, reviewing and updating Business Continuity Plans and RAGS.  The in-house Care at Home Service is currently recruiting care workers – offering more attractive / enhanced Terms and Conditions in comparison to the market.  Glasgow HSCP is also about to commence its own recruitment drive early next year.  As more staff leave commissioned services to join in-house services, the impact intensifies and is likely to result in providers invoking RAG to help manage demand and capacity levels and/or hand back cases to in-house.  P&D is monitoring closely and continues to report daily via HSCP Flash and Oversight meetings.

Commissioning business is prioritised daily in accordance with the above and within available limited resources.  Inevitably, this means there is slippage across other work streams including service / contract monitoring, audits, strategic and service review actions – albeit with the intention of recommencing once other noted pressures reduce. 

Democratic Services

The team continues to support the Council’s COVID-19 civil contingencies response, supporting command structures at Council, local, regional and national level which have been re-convened in response to the developing situation around the Omicron variant.  

The Team continues to be involved in the strategic management of Registration Services at a local and regional level.  The registration of births and marriages/civil partnerships continues to be supported by colleagues in Legal Services.  Registrars continue to meet at a GG&C level with colleagues from the Health Board and funeral directors to monitor the impact of Omicron on mortuary capacity across the GG&C area.  In anticipation, death registration across GG&C will be prioritised during the festive period, to maximise the available resources and help support the disproportionate demands on Glasgow City Council given the number of hospitals within its boundary.  Meanwhile, in line with other authorities, birth registration has been suspended until 10th January 2022. 

Wedding and Civil Partnership ceremonies continue to take place at 21 Southbank Road for now and bookings were starting to increase as a result of the easing of restrictions.  As the infection rates increase as a result of the Omicron variant, the Team continues to closely monitor the ever developing situation around restrictions and what they mean for ceremonies and receptions.  In addition, the various risk assessments will be reviewed.  

On top of the above, there are other emerging civil contingency concerns in relation to which the Team continues to participate in various local and regional awareness and planning meetings including the review of strategic infrastructure and fulfilment of the “All Risks” approach to the various concurrent risks across the country including the recent severe weather warnings.  Preparations are made in the event of any weather disruption during the festive period. 

Planning for the Local Government Elections scheduled for 5 May 2022 continues.  This will intensify in January to include plans for both the election event its self and for the initial weeks of the new Council post 5th May.  Members will be regularly updated as plans develop.  Whilst it is hoped that the situation with Omicron will have dissipated by the time of the election, planning is being informed by COVID and appropriate health and safety measures are being built into arrangements.

Information Management

The team continues to support services with information management, data protection and data sharing and has supported services in the ongoing development and amendment of Privacy Notices and Privacy Impact Assessments for new workstreams and the establishment of information sharing agreements and protocols which assist the Council in its work to protect some of the most vulnerable residents.  This is becoming more pressing as planning for isolation support (should it be necessary) steps up in advance of January.  In addition to supporting the Council’s postal mail services, the Team remains busy with print activity in support of schools, Committee cycles and in general to support the manner in which most services are operating.  In addition to the foregoing, the Team is working in relation to the classification and preservation of information generated by the Council’s response to the COVID pandemic.

SMT Support & Members Support Teams

The SMT Support team is working with the CMT and SMT to support services and continues to support other areas of the wider service and beyond as required.  The Team continues to support the CMT, SMT and Departmental Management Teams with processes for remote meetings, production of Committee Reports and Elected Member Technical Notes.  The Members Support Team also continues to support Elected Members and has been assisting with COVID absence reporting calls.  This may be expanded as required in January and Members will be kept up to date if this impacts on the available service. 

Recruitment to current vacancies across the teams is being addressed to assist the teams in support of the current level of “business as usual” and the expected commitments intimated in recent guidelines governing the new Omicron variant.

Legal Services

Legal Services continues to support services in the Council’s response to COVID-19. This includes putting in place variations of contracts with the providers of adult social care to allow payment of additional funding from the Scottish Government to uplift the hourly rates of pay for social care workers.  A Minute of Understanding is also being put in place with Greenspace Scotland for Remembering Together which is a national project for the creation of COVID Community Memorials.  The Team is also dealing with urgent data sharing agreements as required to support the sharing of data across organisations to facilitate the COVID response.

The team also works closely with the procurement team in ensuring procurement processes are complying with the changing law in this area and that the flexibilities offered by Government guidance are appropriately used.  This also involves the drafting and documentation of contracts with suppliers of goods, works and services to the Council and the contractual clauses on the risk to the delivery of contracts caused by COVID-19 and the EU exit have to be tailored to fit the individual nature and circumstances of each contract.  The team continues to assist with urgent procurements which have some complicated features and, as such, need detailed legal advice to ensure compliance and minimisation of risk. 

Further resource continues to be dedicated to interpreting, assessing and, where necessary, protecting the Council from the impact of the pandemic and the EU exit on its legal interests.  In tandem with this the team endeavours to ensure that any potential benefits to the Council are optimised.  One particularly busy area of work continues to be in relation to the many grant offers which the Council is receiving.  The nature of Scottish Government funding in support of the Coucil’s COVID response is that it is awarded as subject specific grants.  Each grant comes with its own terms and conditions which the team assesses and then advises the relevant service in relation to any potential risks or performance/reporting requirements.  This work can often be challenging - whilst the terms and conditions are not overly complex, the volume and increasingly short turnaround times within which the grant has to be accepted in order for the Council to access funds can at times impact on other work.

Similarly, with restrictions easing in the past summer, the Litigation and Licensing Team have provided guidance to services, community groups and licence holders in order to assist with the resumption of licensable activities including community events.  Should restrictions be reintroduced then the team will be available to provide support and assistance to services and applicants.  The team is also ready to support Environmental Health in enforcing any restrictions.

Members of Legal Services Team are also providing emergency cover over the Christmas break should urgent matters arise.  Potential issues include supporting Social Work Services for adult and child protection, the triggering of court caveats, support to Environmental Health for any enforcement including enforcement of COVID restrictions and emergency contracts.

Legal Services is endeavouring to carrying out its “business as usual” activities.  This includes support to major projects including concluding negotiations for the Kirkintilloch Sports Hub Project, contractual work for the new ASN school at Waterside, supporting the City Region Deal project, supporting the refurbishments of Milngavie and Bearsden Primary Schools, the Twechar Canalside Project and delivering a new Integrated Housing Management System for the Housing Service.  Assistance is also being provided to services, including Education, Social Work Services and Housing, in reviewing current policies and procedures including changes required as a result of COVID-19.  The Litigation and Licensing Team has also progressed reviews of different licensing areas including assisting the Licensing Board with the introduction of a new Supplementary Statement of Licensing Policy.  The team also continues to provide advice on a variety of pre-litigation matters and ongoing close support to social work colleagues in respect of sensitive and important matters involving children, families and vulnerable adults some of which are particularly pressing at the current time.

In respect of litigation, physical appearances in court by the team were becoming more commonplace following the easing of restrictions.  However, in recent weeks many hearings were converted into virtual hearings and, at present, none have been cancelled.  Moreover, it remains the cases that hearings can take place at short notice.  In recent months, heritable court actions in relation to rent arrears and evictions have resumed.  While Legal Services has been working with Housing to ensuring the reintroduction of these actions are manageable this will require significant resources from the team.

As before, a significant amount of work is dedicated to the running of quasi-judicial boards.  In conjunction with colleagues in Democratic Services, virtual meetings of the Planning Local Review Body, the Licensing Boards and the Civic Government Appeals Board are now taking place regularly, which all required expert legal advice.  However, due to growing concerns of the Omicron variant, site visits of the Local Review Body have been postponed.  It is hoped that these can take place early next year.   

As always and due to the nature of the work of the team, there are many matters which the team is working on which are confidential and sensitive and further detailed information cannot be given on these.

Unfortunately, there remains some vacancies in Legal Services. It is hoped that many posts will be filled in the next few months and the team will be better resourced to be able to continue to support the Council through the projects and challenges which lie ahead. 

Customer & Business Support Services

Customer & Business Support Services are working with other Council services and Community Planning Partners to develop plans to support the residents of East Dunbartonshire over the festive period including contingency arrangements for the new year in the event of further restrictions.  Details of the support across the teams are as follows:

Communications & Engagement
The team is continuing to produce and issue Employee News in line with latest guidance and updates from NHS and Scottish Government.

The Council website is being updated with service updates as required and these are also being shared through social media channels to achieve widest reach and ensure as many people as possible area aware of the latest position.

Standby and out-of-hours arrangements remain in place to ensure that communications can be issued 24/7 as necessary and in line with any operational or emergency requirements.

Customer Services
Resourcing impacts on Customer Services operations due to vacancies (a national issue) and COVID related absence has required operational changes in order to ensure resources are appropriately allocated to the customer service channels of highest demand.  The operational hours of face-to-face customer service delivery through the Community Hubs is changing from Tuesday 21 December to Monday to Friday 1pm to 4pm.  This ensures that maximum resources can be allocated to phones and digital channels which have much higher volumes of enquiries and requests. 

All available customer service agents will continue to work 9am to 5pm with maximum resources allocated to phones in the morning and for the final hour ahead of lines closing.

Absences in the Emergency Response Centre team are currently being managed with all shifts able to be covered and contingency arrangements across the Christmas and New Year period being reviewed.

Shared Services
Shared Services support the National Assistance Helpline (NAH).  The NAH will be available for residents from 29th to 31st December providing access to support teams for those that are self isolating including food, fuel, prescriptions and the Self Isolation Support Grant.  The team receive a daily list from Public Health Scotland of positive cases and close contacts in order to get in touch with them and establish any support needs they may have during self isolation.  Call handlers will refer those in need to voluntary groups who are providing support for the food, fuel, etc. and refer those seeking the self isolation support grant to the Revenues and Benefits Team.

Revenues & Benefits
The Revenues and Benefits team anticipate an increase in the number of applications to the Scottish Welfare Fund and the Self Isolations Support Grant given the rising numbers of covid within the local community. The team have contingency plans in place to allocate additional resources should the volume of applications exceed the forecast.  We are working with colleagues in Finance to ensure that successful applicants can receive payment as soon as possible.

ICT
ICT have engaged with services across the Council to gather requirements and will have support on standby to ensure that all emergency calls can be resolved during the festive period.  The team are also reviewing the systems and devices available within Education for students and teachers should blended learning return in the new year.

All staff within the Finance and Audit Teams continue to work within current protocols supporting key activities across all services including business grants, support payments and any new ringfenced activities as the policy response to the new Omicron variant emerges.  This includes working with legal and operational teams to coordinate grant awards with finance teams supporting any reporting requirements therein. 

Operational changes within the Corporate Fraud Team have been implemented to create additional resource capacity that will be required as part of assessing the validity of business grants claims as they are received.  In addition the Chief Internal Auditor has delayed the completion of audit work where the responsible Executive Officer or Team is required to support new, accelerated processes as part of the Command & Control arrangements with this capacity again being used to support the required audit checks as part of new grants, processes and controls. 

Finance teams continue to work with Executive Officers to track current expenditure with this continuing to be reported to Elected Members as part of the Revenue Monitoring Reports through the Council's Policy and Resources Committee.

All departmental and overarching Business Continuity Plans have been updated in preparation for the Winter period and taking account of the covid pandemic management experience to date, including anticipated impact of the new variant. A Covid-19 annex to the HSCP Business Continuity Plan provides detailed information on essential service prioritisation approach, team consolidation plans, public protection arrangements, arrangements to support and sustain commissioned services, arrangement for sustaining staff capacity and communications.  Virtual management team meetings are well established and the HSCP Board continues to meet virtually.

Performance and activity reports continue to be prepared for consideration by the HSCP Board as normal.  These provide indications of service activity and outcome impacts as a result of Covid-19 across HSCP functions and services, as well as reporting on normal business activity and performance.

Public protection work, which includes child and adult protection, drug and alcohol services, metal health, and a range of justice services, continues to be prioritised. Incoming referrals for adult and child concerns, with some fluctuation, are at a high and sustained level. Statutory mental health interventions with individuals have also been at a high level.

The Public Protection Chief Officers Group (COG) continues to meet virtually.  The Public Protection Leadership Group established at the outset of our Covid-19 response has continued, but as with the COG meetings, has reduced frequency.  This ensures ongoing management oversight of all operational matters and statistics relating to Public Protection, in a manageable manner.  The local Child and Adult Protection Committees have resumed consideration of expected business items, alongside data and emerging risks and issues.

Most social care services continue to be delivered on a business as usual basis e.g. statutory assessment and supervision services, care at home and residential care. Building based day and respite services have all now resumed, working on a revised and reduced capacity basis, including Kelvinbank Resource Centre and Milan, and capacity increases have been implemented in line with national guidance. 

Social Work assessment and care management referrals are operating at or exceeding pre-pandemic levels with notable upturns in drug and alcohol, mental health, community care and community nursing service requirements. There are a significant number of people in the community waiting for completion of a formal assessment to inform care decisions. Additional funding provided by Scottish Government to support winter pressures has been used in part to add to the assessment workforce to support addressing this backlog of service demand. Numbers of East Dunbartonshire residents going to and being admitted to hospital is high with a resulting pressure around people whose discharge from hospital is delayed. This is of particular concern going into the winter period where pressure on hospitals is usually high, coupled with the projected additional demand brought by the new covid variant. Work to ensure people can move on from hospital either home or to an appropriate care setting is a current priority.  

All of the Council’s in-house social care services continue to operate.  Our day services are operating on a limited basis.  The Outlook and Outreach services operate an emergency response to families and individuals in crisis.  The oversight of all registered services, including those delivered by 3rd and independent sector partners, is monitored via the HSCP Oversight Group which has input from Public Health and the Care Inspectorate.

It has been noted that the volume of demand, and levels of need and complexity of care required for people accessing our care at home and rehabilitation services is particularly high and our care at home service, and those we commission, are significantly stretched. Care at Home services have developed a risk and priority rating system to support targeting of services at those most in need, and those who have no other way of being supported, in the event of workforce shortages. This risk rating system would see families potentially asked to step in to provide some aspects of care packages where possible, when staffing number drop, for sickness or self-isolation reasons. It is anticipated that the high level of transmissibility of the new variant will require this system to be implemented at times over the coming months. Additional Scottish Government funding has been provided to support delivery of service in the community and a significant amount of the East Dunbartonshire allocation has been targeted at increasing the Care at Home workforce. Recruitment is underway however it should be noted that this runs alongside significant NHS recruitment for similarly graded posts and parallel recruitment in other HSCP areas as well, so it is anticipated that we may not achieve all the staffing required.

Joint working with trade union colleagues continues to be very positive in responding to issues on the ground.

The Care Inspectorate have undertaken an Inspection of the in-house Care at Home service. The resulting report indicated many very positive aspects but with some specific procedural points where it was considered there could still be room for improvement. Overall, grades remain unchanged. An action plan in response to the inspection has been developed and is being implemented. 

Recent changes to staff testing requirements have extended the testing requirement from weekly PCR to additional daily lateral flow tests for large numbers of front line care staff in our direct services and those that are purchased. The national supply chain is in the process of adapting to accommodate the additional testing stock this requires and suitable arrangements are expected to be put in place prior to Christmas. It is inevitable that the combination of increased staff testing and a higher transmissibility rate of the new variant will have a workforce impact on local social care and health services.

The HSCP has concluded its aspect of the vaccination programme, which was to deliver boosters and third doses to care homes and those who are housebound, with only mop up deliveries remaining. There are concerns about the booster uptake among local care staff, both within in house and provider services, with a range of reasons for the lower uptake being put forward. The HSCP will deliver a mop up staff clinic in the local area to support this.

A high level of support continues to be provided to care homes. Processes for regular staff testing and enhanced outbreak testing of residents where required are well established. At the time of writing no care homes in the area are experiencing an outbreak. Indoor visiting in care homes is in place in all services in the area, albeit restrictions have recently been put in place to limit numbers, in response to the spread of the new variant.

The HSCP Board (IJB) is working to develop a new HSCP Strategic Plan 2022-25, which will be supported by one year ED HSCP Delivery Plans, setting out the detail below the strategic level.

Scottish Government funding was provided to ensure an uplift to all adult social care providers in the area to guarantee a rate of pay of at least £10.02 per hour for hands on care staff. We are in the process of passing this funding through to providers and it will be backdated to 1 December 2021.