HC-One is to make having a Covid-19 vaccine a condition of employment for all staff across the UK.
The UK’s largest care provider is entering into consultation with staff and its recognised trade union partner GMB on mandatory jabs.
The consultation process will run from mid-July through to early September.
The move follows the government’s announcement last month that it would be legislating to require care home staff in England to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19.
HC-One chief executive James Tugendhat (pictured) said almost 90 per cent of staff have been vaccinated but will go further by making having a Covid vaccine a condition of employment for all staff in England, Scotland and Wales, and all of its support teams.
“This is the responsible step for us to take to protect the people we care for, as well as our colleagues. The evidence is clearly emerging that vaccination cuts transmission and substantially reduces the risk of hospitalisation,” he added.
“Together with regular testing, and robust infection prevention and control measures, vaccinations will help us to operate our homes in a way that is as close to normal as possible in the current circumstances.”
Tugendhat said it would be working closely with HC-One staff who have yet to be vaccinated.
“Throughout the vaccine roll-out to date, we have been encouraging and supporting colleagues to get their vaccine,” he added.
“Our move to make the Covid-19 vaccine a condition of employment follows months of providing colleagues with factual information and reassurance about the vaccine.”
