August 2021

August 31, 2021

Volunteers may be required to fill staffing shortfalls at English care homes

Guardian Online reports that large numbers of volunteers could be needed this winter to tackle rising staff shortages in care homes. This shortage is said to have been added to by the requirement for all care home workers to be fully vaccinated against coronavirus, many providers have said. As the health secretary, urged care workers to book their vaccination in time to meet the 11 November deadline for all staff in registered care homes in England to be fully vaccinated, the Independent Care Group said operators could be forced to hand back contracts to councils or close care homes and relocate residents because of a staffing crisis, which is being exacerbated by ongoing vaccine hesitancy among a minority of staff. It is calling  for retired nurses, doctors, carers, to be trained and DBS-checked to fill vacancies in case of a feared “winter meltdown” in staff numbers.

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