To ask the Minister of Health (i) for an update on the COVID-19 special recognition payment for (a) Health and Social Care staff, including those in GP surgeries; and (b) health and social care workers from the independent sector; and (ii) to outline the reasons for the payment not having yet been delivered to some HSC staff.

Phase 1 of the Special Recognition Payment process is considering claims from employers for staff that are currently employed. As at 26 January 2022, 563 claims have been received from care home and domiciliary care providers which are progressing through the various stages of the pre-payment checks. This figure includes 513 care providers that have submitted the required documentation which have been processed by BSO with a total payment value of just over £14.9m which includes 25,714 individuals.

The recognition payment has also been paid to community pharmacies, dental practices, optometry practices and General Practice; Out of Hours mutual organisations and GP Federations who meet the qualifying criteria.

For this group, as at 26 January 2022, 1,442 claims have been received, of which 1,436 claims have been processed with a total value of over £10.3m paid to 18,539 staff.

Due to the transient nature of staff employed in the independent sector, some people may have moved to another employer for any number of reasons, including a job in a new sector. The mechanism for administering the special recognition payments in these circumstances is included in the second phase of the process. Details of Phase 2 were communicated on 28 January 2022 to all Independent Sector care home and domiciliary care providers registered with the RQIA.

I have written to these employers setting out the expectation that they will complete the claim process for all staff employed by them during the qualifying period who meet the eligibility criteria and who have now left.

It is accepted that this approach will involve some additional work for employers as they will have to make contact with ex-employees but they will be entitled to claim the administration fee (£12.60 per employee) for this.

Where we are made aware of employers who are not engaging officials will make direct contact with these providers and potentially follow this up with formal correspondence where appropriate.

Unfortunately we have little by way of enforcement options and we may ultimately have to advise staff to seek redress through the Labour Relations Agency. It is however hoped that there would be sufficient pressure applied through departmental engagement to persuade any reluctant

I remain personally committed to ensuring the recognition payment will be paid to independent sector staff as soon as it is practicable.

A FAQ on the special recognition payment has been published on the Department’s website and is available at the following link;

https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/news/hsc-staff-recognition-payment-faqs