The commissioning and contracts team within Powys County Council’s social care service has been nominated and shortlisted for a national award for their response to Covid-19.

Go Awards Wales highlight the best practice in public procurement and the competition is organised by BIP Solutions and the Realising Dreams Foundations with the backing of the Welsh Government.

TV presenter, Sian Lloyd will host the online ceremony on April 29, when the Powys team will line up in the Covid-19 Outstanding Response Award against eight other finalists.

The team’s response included:

• In the early months of the pandemic daily support calls to providers were made to check on resources and staffing pressures.

• Risk assessments were carried out 10 days before the country went into lockdown and business continuity plans were reviewed. Online surgeries were provided to help strengthen these plans.

• Infection/prevention advice was offered to all residential homes and homecare providers.

• PPE was, and continues to be provided by the council.

• A weekly Skype meeting was held by the team to ensure that communications with the whole sector was up to date. This was backed up with a weekly email bulletin setting out the latest procedures.

• Payment for planned care-rather than actual care delivered-was agreed with providers and Welsh Government money was used to pay for empty beds in care homes in a bid to ensure that the sector was sustainable.

• Significant work was done with staff deployment, volunteers and financial support.

Dylan Owen, head of commissioning with the council, said: “I’m delighted that the work of our team has been recognised by shortlisting judges.

"The pandemic has been an extremely challenging period for the whole social care sector and I am so proud of the way our team has supported those we commission services from, such as in the residential and homecare sector.