Care workers and 'emotionally wrecked' managers speak out about 'no job no jab' policy

A care home manager has resorted to trying sandwich boards to attract staff ahead of the government’s 'no jab no job' policy, as care workers express fears about being out of work and leaving jobs they love because they do not want the Covid vaccine.

On 11 November, it will become law in England for anyone entering a care home to demonstrate they have had both doses of Covid-19 vaccine or have a medical exemption. The policy risks worsening an already serious care recruitment crisis.

The government has admitted that up to seven per cent of the workforce, equating to 40,000 staff, could lose their jobs.

Care homes are already struggling with staff recruitment, with 112,000 job vacancies in the care home and home care sector at any one time in 2019/20, and the policy of mandatory vaccination looks set to exacerbate the situation.

Adam Purnell, care lead at Kepplegate House care home, says: “Recruitment at the moment is on such a tightrope, what are we going to do to entice people? No jab no job – it’s as black and white as that. Carers are out of a career. I’ve got five positions available.

“I do TikTok adverts, I do Instagram, I do Facebook, I do Twitter. I do carehome.co.uk, I do photos, I do videos, testimonials, you name it we’ve tried it."

Mr Purnell says he’s even tried using a sandwich board and handing leaflets out in the street. “The fact of the matter is no one wants to work in social care. Until we address the reasons why, its not going to change.

"Mandating the vaccine is just going to do one further thing – segregating the sector from the working population."

Antipathy to policy is high among some care workers

Antipathy to the policy is high among some care workers, with one who wished to remain anonymous, saying: “About to lose my job I love in a care home that has respected my choice throughout.

“I like so many others have worked through this whole pandemic and now I am about to lose a job that I love because of discrimination by government and health ministers and MPs.

"It was okay for me during the pandemic to work on the frontline, sometimes without correct PPE, cover staff shortages as many were isolating due to their vulnerabilities, not get clapped for, get tested three times a week with negative results and now I pose a risk."

The care worker described the new rules as "pure discrimination against those who refuse for their own personal reasons".

Care home manager left 'sad beyond belief' by rules

The last date for care workers to get their first vaccine so they are fully vaccinated before the regulations come into force is 16 September.

Care home owner Bridie Bradbury describes feeling "sad beyond belief" after the government decided to push ahead with mandatory vaccination.

Bridie Bradbury says: “Husband and I are care home owners for adults with learning disabilities for almost 30 years. We are completely shocked and outraged how this Bill could of got snuck through.

"No idea where this leaves us. We have amazing staff who have built up trust and friendships with our service users. Not to mention the time, money and training we have invested."

Care operator Barchester, which runs over 200 care homes, has already made the Covid vaccine compulsory for all its employees with some exemptions including pregnancy.

Another big care provider, HC-One, which runs 326 care homes, is currently carrying out a consultation with its staff on making the vaccine mandatory.

'I won't resign. They'll have to fire me'

A care worker who will be refusing the Covid vaccine said: “I won't resign. They'll have to fire me. That way I've got a leg to stand on when the mass lawsuits start.”

While some care workers are exiting the sector because of the government’s mandatory vaccination policy, former care home manager Dawn Bunter, who is pro-vaccine, is one of a number of care sector workers who has left their job recently as a result of being burned out by the pandemic.

Ms Bunter, who has spoken as a ‘Let’s Talk About Care’ podcast guest about the mental challenges of her job, said: "I'm exhausted. I'm emotionally wrecked. I loved my job prior to this pandemic and I've tried to do my best. This has been a 'lifestyle choice' not just a 'Job', but I now move on to protect my mental health".

As a co-host on the YouTube chat show The Caring View, she and fellow care home managers who are all pro-vaccine, have highlighted the challenge of trying to recruit new staff as the government’s mandatory vaccination policy for care home workers comes into force on 11 November.

Funding is needed to attract people into the sector

Mark Topps, a former care home manager during the pandemic who resigned to spend more time with his family, said: “There’s no additional funds to say let’s pay care workers more to join the industry.”

During August and September, Skills for Care is promoting resources on its website to help care bosses fill job vacancies as part of its #RecruitmentReady campaign. The campaign is particularly targeting school leavers. The campaign includes videos, blogs, articles, expert advice and inspiring interviews from people about their jobs from those working in the care sector.

Vacancy rate in care sector is currently 7.3%

There are currently 570,000 people working in care homes in England and the national job vacancy rate in the care sector is currently 7.3 per cent, according to Skills For Care, which says the average pay per hour for those in the care sector is £8.50.

Jim Thomas, head of workforce capacity and transformation at Skills for Care, said: "Supporting the recruitment and workforce planning of the social care sector is a core part of our work at Skills for Care, and ensuring that the social care workforce has the right people with the right values and behaviours, is a key element of our strategy."

Referring to #RecruitmentReady, Mr Thomas said: “We hope this proves incredibly useful to employers during these busy and challenging times.”