COVID-19: Updates

General Updates

• The UK Coronavirus Act 2020 became law on 25 March 2020. Official Explanatory Notes on the legislation is available, and guidance is being made available on specific sections by the relevant public authorities.
• The Coronavirus (Scotland) Act 2020 became law on 7 April 2020. A short guide to the Act and its provisions has been published by the Scottish Government. Different sections of the Act will be ‘switched on’ at different times, and guidance and/or further regulations will be published at that time.

Social Work Scotland Business

• Chief Social Work Officers are now meeting on a fortnightly basis. with interim meetings as needed. Contact us for more information.
• Our in-person Standing Committees and many of our subgroup meetings are cancelled for the foreseeable future and are meeting online. Contact your Chair for further information.
• We’ve cancelled our 2020 conference and have moved next year’s date to October 2021.
• Our AGM will be held online on 24 November 2020.
• Training for the Scottish Child Interview Model has been put on hold. Contact the team for more information.

Updates from other organisations

• Scottish Social Services Council (including Guidance to Help Social Workers Respond to COVID-19)
• Care Inspectorate
• Iriss
• Scottish Association for Social Work & Social Workers
• Health Protection Scotland
• Health and Social Care Scotland
• Scottish Government
• COSLA (including information for Councils)

Other

• Joint statements from COSLA and Scottish Government (SG) on Commissioned Services and Funding for Social Care (24 March 2020) (PDF)
• Guidance from SG – Ethical Advice and Support (3 April 2020) (external link)
• Resources from The King’s Fund – Leading through COVID-19 (external link)
• Ireland’s response to COVID-19 (including Ethical Framework for Decision Making) (external link)
• National COVID-19 Case Distribution Map (developed by North Lanarkshire) (external link)
• Non-healthcare setting FAQs from COSLA (17 April 2020) (external link) to accompany the HPS guidance, (14 April 2020) (external link)
• Letter from Scottish Government to NHS Execs – COVID-19 – Principles for Mental Health (1 May 2020) (PDF)
• Letter from Scottish Government to NHS Execs – COVID-19 Testing Priorities (1 May 2020) (PDF)
• Get Digitally Connected with the Connecting Scotland Programme – Getting People Online (7 May 2020) (external link)
• Letter from Iona Colvin, Chief Social Work Adviser – Covid-19 testing and care placements – Letter to CSWOs and directors of public health (14 May 2020) (PDF)
• Recognition Matters Research Project – Short Film Launch (23 June 2020) (external link)
• Social Work Scotland – Frequently Asked Questions to accompany Scottish Government and COSLA Guidance on Self-directed Support Option 1 and Option 2 during the Coronavirus pandemic (updated 31 July 2020) (Word doc)

Regularly updated practice and approach examples

Workforce

• Research in Practice (aka Dartington) has produced a range of online resources and learning activities to support social care practice during COVID-19 (including staff supervision, ethical frameworks, etc.) (external links)
• Letter from OCSWA to CSWOs – Business Continuity during COVID-19 (18 March 2020) (PDF)
• Scottish Government and COSLA – Update on Supporting Keyworkers (25 March 2020) (external link)
• Letter from SJC Unions to SG – Covid-19 Workforce Issues (1 April 2020) (PDF)
• Letter from the CNO to CSWOs –  Revised PPE Guidance (2 April 2020) (PDF)
• Position statement from BASW and SWU – Health and Safety during COVID-19 (2 April 2020) (external link)
• Briefing note from OCSWA for CSWOs – Changes to the 1968 Act – Social Care Assessments (5 April 2020) (PDF)
• Guidance from Perth and Kinross Council – PPE Toolbox Talk and PPE designed (6 April 2020) (PDF)
• Statement from BASW – How They are Changing to Support the Workforce (9 April 2020) (external link)
• Statement from COSLA, Scottish Government and Union – Personal Protection Equipment (9 April 2020) (external link)
• Guidance from the Scottish Government – Safe and Ethical Social Work Practice (23 April 2020) (external link)
• Letter from Clare Haughey, Minister for Mental Health – NHS and Social Care Workforce and unpaid carers: Mental Health & Wellbeing Support (11 May 2020) (PDF)
• Adapted Practical Guidance from Scottish Transitions Forum – Principles into Practice: COVID-19 Adapted Guidance (12 May 2020) (external link)
• Social Work Scotland – contact framework and connections for wellbeing has been updated (12 August 2020)

Children and Families

• Report from the Alliance – Protection of Children During the Coronavirus Pandemic (19 March 2020) (external link)
• Guidance from the Children’s Commissioners – Children’s Guide to Coronavirus (27 March 2020) (external link)
• CHS and SCRA –  Joint Statement on operation of Children’s Hearings System (27 March 2020) (external link)
• Guidance from SG – Coronavirus Guide for Childcare and about Keyworkers and Vulnerable Children (31 March 2020) (external link)
• Letter from Children’s Hearing Scotland to CSWOs and Heads of Children’s Services – Request for Local Links (1 April 2020) (PDF)
• Coronavirus (Scotland) Act 2020 – Scottish Government Guidance on the Children’s Hearings and Looked After Children Provisions (7 April 2020) (PDF)
• Kinship Care Forum – Support Available to Kinship Carers (7 April 2020) (PDF)
• Letter issued to Third Sector Organisations – Third Sector Support Through COVID-19 (8 April 2020) (PDF)
• Guidance from SG – Supplementary Child Protection Guidance (16 April 2020) (external link)
• Letter from SG – Updated Supplementary National Child Protection Guidance (Covid-19) (17 April 2020) (PDF)
• Joint statement from SCRA and Children’s Hearings Scotland – On Children’s Hearings and Coronavirus (20 April 2020) (external link)
• Guidance from the Scottish Government – Residential Childcare (23 April 2020) (external link)
• Children’s Hearing Scotland – Coronavirus Practice Guide for Panel Members (28 April 2020) (external link)
• Joint statement from Police Scotland, Social Work Scotland and the Scottish Government – Children and Young People Who Go Missing from Care (22 May 2020) (PDF)
• Letter from OCSWA to CSWOS – Reporting on Kinship and Foster Care Provisions (9 July 2020) (PDF)

Adults

• Position Statement from Mental Welfare Commission – Role and Responsibility in Relation to Coronavirus (2 April 2020) (external link)
• Letter from SG+COSLA – Adult Social Care & Fair Work and Living Wage (10 April 2020) (PDF)
• Letter from SG+COSLA to IJB Chief Officers – Reduction in Delayed Discharges (10 April 2020) (PDF)
• Clarification from SG – Backdating Charging for Residential Care (14 April 2020) (PDF)
• Who Cares? Scotland – Impact of COVID-19 Guidance on Scotland’s Care Experienced Community Report (9 April 2020) (PDF)
• Letter from the Scottish Government – Assurance around Safety and Wellbeing in Care Homes (17 April 2020) (PDF)
• Supplementary Violence Against Women And Girls – Guidance for local authorities on COVID-19  (5 May 2020) (PDF)
• Social Work Scotland – Frequently Asked Questions to accompany Scottish Government and COSLA Guidance on Self-directed Support Option 1 and Option 2 during the Coronavirus pandemic (2 June 2020) (Word doc)
• Scottish Government/COSLA – Easy Read – Self-directed Support Option 1 and 2 Guidance Summary (June 2020) (PDF)
• Letter by Social Work Scotland to Iona Colvin – Enhanced Professional Oversight for Care Homes (11 June 2020) (PDF)
• SWS Response – IJB Questionnaire on Adult Social Care (17 July 2020) (PDF)

Justice

• The Scottish Court and Tribunals Service has introduced the next phase of their contingency plans for COVID-19 and updated guidance on compliance with family court orders (March 2020) (external links)
• Letter from Director of Justice and CSWA to CSWOs –Business Continuity for Justice Social Work  (20 March) (PDF)
• Resuscitation Council UK Statement – CPR and Resuscitation in First Aid and Community Settings (22 March 2020) (external link)
• Joint Letter from PBS+SWS – Updated Parole Arrangements (25 March 2020) (PDF)
• Response from Judiciary of Scotland to Coronavirus Bill (31 March 2020) (external link)
• Briefing from SWS to Judicial Institute – Current Impact of COVID-19 on Justice Social Work (1 April 2020) (PDF)
• SWS & SCTS – Agreement Covid-19 (7 April 2020) (PDF)
• Letter from the Scottish Government – Update on Early Release of Prisoners (22 April 2020) (PDF)
• Scottish Courts and Tribunals News – Sheriff Courts Business Update (1 June 2020) (external link)
• Letter by OCSWA to CSWOs – Update for Justice Social Work Services on Priorities and Expectations (18 June 2020) (PDF)
• SWS & COPFS Diversion Agreement  – Covid-19 v1.2 Revised 25-6-20 (25 June 2020) (PDF)
• Social Work Scotland – Justice Social Work Routemap document (29 June 2020) (Word)
• Joint Statement – Police Scotland, Social Work Scotland & Scottish Government – Early and Effective Interventions (EEI) (30 June 2020) (PDF)
• Social Work Scotland Position Statement – Reducing the Backlog of Unpaid Work Hours (15 July 2020) (PDF)