16th September is the last date for care home workers to get their first dose of the COVID vaccine so they are fully vaccinated by the time the compulsory vaccines regulations come into force on the 11th November. After the 11th November anyone working or volunteering in a care home for older people will need to be fully vaccinated, unless exempt.
Vic Rayner OBE, CEO of the National Care Forum – leading association for the not for profit care sector says:
“The pressure on social care employers in relation to the policy to mandate vaccination in care home staff remains relentless and they are working hard to implement this policy as fairly as possible. The updated advice today, 15th September, from the DHSC on how to manage the process for those staff who believe they are medically exempt to self-certify to this effect has just complicated an already difficult situation for employers and their staff.
“The current situation facing the social care workforce is like nothing seen before, with many seeing an increase in staff exits and experiencing significant difficulties to attract new staff and retain existing staff. Given that the government is now consulting on widening the policy to cover all frontline health and care staff, they should delay the date of 11th November for the go –live of this policy in care homes and align the implementation dates across the whole health and care sector.”
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Note to Editors:
- The National Care Forum brings together over 150 of the UK’s leading social care organisations, representing large numbers of care providers, offering thousands of services across the country, which are not for profit and always at the heart of community provision. Collectively, these organisations deliver more than £2 billion of social care support to more than 167,000 people in 9,200 settings. The NCF membership body collectively employs more than 95,500 colleagues.
- More information is available on the National Care Forum at www.nationalcareforum.org.uk. @NCFCareForum @vicrayner @NCF_Liz
- For enquiries, please contact Edna Petzen, edna.petzen@nationalcareforum.org.uk
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