Response to reports of ban on care staff working in multiple care homes

It was reported today in the Telegraph that care staff may be banned from working in more than one care home in an attempt to halt the spread of coronavirus.

Responding to the news, Neil Carberry, Chief Executive of the REC, said:

“The UK’s social care sector couldn’t operate without agency workers – there are around 112,000 job vacancies on any given day in adult social care in England. Agencies have been working for months to minimise movement between homes, but banning changes of location in Covid-secure ways would be catastrophic for patient care, leading to more hospital admissions. The Government would do well to acknowledge this. 

“Temporary staff adhere to the same rigorous infection control guidelines as permanent colleagues and have an equal right to PPE and testing. Like everyone else, they are also reliant on a highly effective track and trace system to stop the spread of infection. This should be the Government’s priority if they want to protect both those being cared for and the staff in social care and the NHS.  

“Any blanket legal ban on agency workers moving between care homes would crash the care system. It mustn’t be allowed to happen given that there aren’t enough staff already in the system to make up the shortfall.” 

For more information, contact the REC Press Office on 020 7009 2157, 020 7009 2192 or pressoffice@rec.uk.com. Outside of regular office hours, please call 07702 568 829.