Dorset Council has received more than £850,000 to boost staffing levels in the social care sector.

Staff absence rates in care homes and the home care sector have increased significantly across the country in the wake of the new Covid-19 variant, due to workers testing positive or having to self-isolate.

The government funding – £120 million nationally – will increase workforce capacity and provide better protection and support for staff and residents in care homes and those receiving help in their own homes.

Dorset receives £1.7 million of which £853,377 will go to Dorset Council.

Separately, a £149 million grant scheme has been announced to support rapid testing of care home staff and facilitate visits from family and friends where possible.

The vital infection prevention and control guidance on staff movement in care homes is also being reinforced.

Many local authorities across the country already have staffing initiatives in place to increase capacity and address staffing issues.

These include care worker staff banks where new recruits are paid during training, redeployment models where DBS-checked staff are trained and moved into operational roles and end-to-end training and recruitment services.