Quarter of care jobs at risk over jabs

ALMOST a quarter of all care home staff in Halton could lose their jobs if they do not get Covid vaccinations in the next few weeks, a move which could result in 180 fewer care home beds for the elderly and vulnerable.

From November 11, anyone working or volunteering in a care home has a legal requirement to be fully vaccinated, unless they are exempt.

But according to Halton Borough Coucil’s figures, of an estimated 942 care home workers in the borough, 765 (81%) have received one dose and 722 (76%) are fully vaccinated.

This means around 200 workers – 24% of the workforce – could be prevented from working if the do not become double jabbed.

The Government said the measures are “vital to protect the most vulnerable”.

But the Unison union said the sector, which is already facing a national staffing crisis, was “sleepwalking into a disaster” and urged ministers to scrap the requirement.

Only three of the borough’s 22 care homes – Croftwood, Lilycross and Wide Cove – currently report that all staff have received both doses of the vaccine.

A report to the council’s Health Policy and Performance Board said losing so many care home staff could see the number of beds reduced across the borough by “about 180”.

With only 230 spare beds in the whole of Halton as things stand, the report warned a staff reduction would “eradicate available capacity” and require “significant reliance on contingency plans”.

It warned an uneven distribution of vaccinated staff meant that some homes would be unable to maintain safe staffing levels for existing residents, causing a “serious challenge” for continuity of care.

The report said its assessment was “necessarily pessimistic” in the absence of any clear current indication of a rapid increase in staff vaccination.

It said: “If the risks identified are to be mitigated, urgent action is required across all care homes with less than full staff uptake.”

The report said Halton Council has used tracking data to contact homes which have low vaccine uptake. It added: “Work is ongoing in the other homes and plans are in place to minimise risk to service delivery within those homes.”