During the consultation, UNISON was very clear that we do not agree with mandating vaccinations – which should always be voluntary. However, on 14 December 2021 Parliament agreed to regulations to mandate vaccination as a condition of working in further care settings. Guidance on how these regulations apply to any other Care Quality Commission (CQC) regulated activity in health and social care was issued on Thursday 20th January.
If you work in an organisation that delivers CQC-regulated activity this will apply to you. Your employer is obliged to ensure that all staff in scope are doubly vaccinated on 1st April. As the last date to access a vaccination to fit in the timescales is 3rd February, your managers should be having supportive conversations around your vaccination status and your options if you are not vaccinated. If you are unvaccinated and are not medically exempt, pregnant, or on maternity leave, you may face dismissal from 1st April.
UNISON expects that your employer should seek to redeploy you, where possible, to avoid dismissal. Please contact the branch as a matter of urgency if you require advice about your individual circumstances or support in your conversation with management.
UNISON remains extremely concerned about the impact that the VCOD policy will have on numbers of staff leaving the care sector. Our National Officers have raised, and continue to raise, these concerns with policy makers and politicians.
Further Reading…