Jun 2021
OSJCT response to Government plans to make COVID-19 vaccinations compulsory for employees in care homes
Statement from Chief Executive Dan Hayes.
“The social care work force was at the very front line of the pandemic in wave one and wave two. Although they are some of the least recognised and lowest paid workers in the country, social care stood up for the vulnerable old and put themselves in the way of COVID-19.
“We are used to doing all that we can for our residents, and almost 85% of my Trust colleagues have already received the vaccine. We will continue to support those that haven’t in the hope that when the vaccine is mandated, there will be very few individuals whose employment may be affected.
“Government should be aware that redeployment is not a possibility in social care. In our services, close contact with residents is part of the job and unavoidable, and therefore if you are not vaccinated in line with any changes to the law, we cannot foresee how employment could be maintained.
“The magnitude of the public health crisis means that vaccination for all social care workers is a reasonable response, but only if it is fair.
“The rule should be consistently applied across the NHS and social care and remembering that our social care workers earn significantly less even than their NHS colleagues, we challenge the government to come good on a promise to fund the sector properly and reward social care workers fairly for what they contribute.”