Mandatory Covid-19 Vaccinations For Care Home Staff – What Next?
From November 11th all those who work in a Care Quality Commission (CQC) registered care home in England must be fully vaccinated against Covid-19, unless they are exempt.
This is major step forward to protect the elderly in care and its effects will be far reaching.
But it does not give mandatory protection to those in private care in the home. This gives rise to the question: Will this be extended to the private sector in the near future?
So who is covered by the new regulations?
This will apply to most people who enter the care home for work, including:
- staff
- agency workers
- contractors or self-employed people hired to carry out work in a care home, for example tradespeople, occupational therapists or hairdressers
- people not employed by the care home who need to enter for work, for example doctors, nurses and CQC inspectors
- volunteers
- work experience students
- job applicants attending an interview
So what are the exemptions?
The following people are exempt:
- anyone with a medical exemption – see medical exemptions on GOV.UK
- current care home residents and service users
- friends and family of a current resident
- workers who do not enter the care home at all, for example a gardener
- someone providing emergency assistance or urgent maintenance
- members of the emergency services who need to enter the care home to carry out their job
- anyone visiting a dying resident
- anyone giving bereavement support to a resident after the death of a relative or friend
- anyone under 18
At the present time, the need to be vaccinated for those providing in-home care is on a personal basis between those being cared for and those providing the care.
If this were to change, we will as always keep you up-to-date with the situation.
The Graham Agency, keeping you informed.
End