Vaccination of workers in social care settings other than care homes: operational guidance
From 1 April 2022, people carrying out face-to-face, CQC-regulated social care activities will need to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, unless exempt.
Applies to England
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Government intends to revoke the regulations making vaccines a condition of deployment for health and social care staff, and sought views on this through consultation. The government’s response to the consultation has now been published. In the light of consultation, the government is proceeding with revocation and the regulations revoking vaccination as a condition of deployment in all health and social care settings will come into force on 15 March 2022.
This guidance supports the implementation of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) (Amendment) (Coronavirus) (No. 2) Regulations 2022 (‘the regulations’), in wider social care settings, including home care, extra care housing and supported living.
This guidance does not cover care homes. There is separate guidance on implementing these regulations in care homes.
From 1 April 2022, social care providers registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) must ensure that anyone they employ or engage to carry out direct and face-to-face CQC-regulated social care activities meets the vaccination requirements as set out in this guidance. The person must be able to prove that they meet one of the following:
- satisfy the vaccination requirements
- are exempt from vaccination
- are covered by other exceptions
This guidance is aimed at:
- service providers
- CQC registered persons
- local authorities
- people who are employed or otherwise engaged to carry out CQC-regulated social care activity in settings other than care homes
- people who receive care and support services in these settings
There is also guidance on the implementation of the regulations in healthcare settings published by NHS England.
Updates to this page
Last updated 1 March 2022 + show all updates
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Updated to reflect the announcement that government is proceeding with revoking vaccination as a condition of deployment in all health and social care settings.
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Updated to reflect the announcement that government has published a consultation seeking views on revoking regulations making vaccines a condition of deployment for health and social care staff.
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Added call-out box to reflect that the government has announced its intention to revoke the regulations making vaccines a condition of deployment for health and social care staff, subject to parliamentary process.
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First published.