To ask the Minister of Health what alternative methods of application can be provided for the HSC Staff Recognition Payment in cases where former employers are refusing to apply for the scheme on behalf of former employees who are entitled to apply under the second phase of payments.

You may be aware that on the 29 October 2021 a letter was issued to all Independent Sector care home and domiciliary care providers registered with the RQIA, inviting them to identify their qualifying employees. The letter included details of eligibility criteria and how the employer should claim on behalf of their 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. Where this is the case, it will be their previous employers who have responsibility to claim the recognition payment and pass this onto those former employees.

The mechanism for administering the special recognition payments in these circumstances, and other more specific and complex cases, is currently being finalised and will be included in the second phase of this process. Details of this will be communicated to all Independent Sector care home and domiciliary care providers registered with the RQIA.

The Department would encourage all sector organisations to work proactively to ensure all their members participate in this scheme.

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

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