Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
    • Advertise
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • XpertHR
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Pricing
    • Free trial
    • Subscribe
    • XpertHR USA
  • Webinars
  • OHW+

Personnel Today

Register
Log in
Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
    • Advertise
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • XpertHR
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Pricing
    • Free trial
    • Subscribe
    • XpertHR USA
  • Webinars
  • OHW+

Agency workersNHSLatest NewsTemporary employmentWorkforce planning

Ban on care staff moving between workplaces proposed

by Ashleigh Webber 18 Nov 2020
by Ashleigh Webber 18 Nov 2020 Shutterstock
Shutterstock

Agency workers in the care sector will be banned from moving between care homes under new government proposals to reduce the spread of Covid-19.

One of the common factors in care homes with a higher Covid-19 infection rate among staff was the use of staff who worked across multiple sites, according to the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC).

Working in the care sector

Care staff paid below minimum wage awarded £100k 

Reviews launched into deaths of NHS and social care workers

Leave to remain extended to families of deceased care workers

Under the proposals being consulted on, the government would implement new regulations that will require Care Quality Commission-registered residential and nursing care home providers in England to restrict the movement of staff providing nursing or personal care.

They would be unable to use staff who provide, or have carried out within the previous 14 days, care work in another setting or for another health or social care provider.

It would apply to care homes using bank or agency staff, excluding registered managers, or workers carrying out tasks other than the delivery of care, such as cleaning.

Primary or community healthcare staff who are not employees of the care home – for example district and community nurses, GPs or other visiting healthcare professionals – would not be included in the requirement.

The proposals were criticised by the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC), which said the government had not acknowledged the progress that care homes had made in ensuring staff could change locations in a Covid-secure way.

It was also disappointed that the government had only allowed one week for responses to the consultation, which closes this Friday (20 November).

“A ban on agency workers moving between care homes would severely damage the care system, would be catastrophic for patient safety, and likely lead to more hospital admissions. With around 112,000 care sector job vacancies in England on any given day there aren’t enough staff to deliver the care that’s needed and agency workers are absolutely essential,” said Kate Shoesmith, deputy CEO of the REC.

“Temporary staff adhere to the same rigorous infection control guidelines as permanent colleagues and have an equal right to PPE. 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.”

The DHSC suggested that care providers “consider the use of exclusivity contracts with agencies or block-book agency workers on a temporary or minimum hours contract”.

They would also need to take reasonable steps to identify workers who hold additional jobs and discuss with them which role the worker wanted to continue.

The only exception to the requirements would be where a care provider was unable to engage enough staff to cover some shifts or duties, or there have been unplanned absences due to Covid-19 self-isolation requirements or school closures.

For the exception to apply, the provider would need to be able to demonstrate that it had adequately planned its staffing requirements and was actively taking steps to address resourcing gaps. Providers would also need to prove that all staff have tested negative for Covid-19 in the previous seven days, workers have had training in infection prevention and control and have a risk assessment in place.

The requirement will not apply staff who have worked in another health or social care setting in the 14 days prior to the proposed regulations coming into force.

HR opportunities in Healthcare on Personnel Today

Browse more HR opportunities in healthcare

Ashleigh Webber
Ashleigh Webber

Ashleigh is editor of OHW+ and HR and wellbeing editor at Personnel Today. Ashleigh's areas of interest include employee health and wellbeing, equality and inclusion and skills development. She has hosted many webinars for Personnel Today, on topics including employee retention, financial wellbeing and menopause support. Prior to joining Personnel Today in 2018, she covered the road transport sector for Commercial Motor and Motor Transport magazines, touching on some of the employment and wellbeing issues experienced by those in road haulage.

previous post
Union warns of post-pandemic head teacher ‘exodus’
next post
‘Green industrial revolution’ will create 250,000 jobs

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

You may also like

Top 10 HR questions November 2023: Holiday carry-over

4 Dec 2023

Consultation launched on using agency workers during strikes

16 Nov 2023

Rolled-up holiday pay to be introduced for workers...

8 Nov 2023

Minimum service levels set and agency worker cover...

7 Nov 2023

Will the Predictable Terms and Conditions Act change...

3 Oct 2023

Right to predictable working hours receives Royal Assent

19 Sep 2023

Top 10 HR questions July 2023: Strikes and...

1 Aug 2023

Strikes: Government will not appeal agency workers ruling

27 Jul 2023

Agency worker ban during strikes to be reinstated...

18 Jul 2023

Holiday pay changes: how entitlement will be simplified

26 May 2023

  • Internal mobility: how to unlock your employees’ potential PROMOTED | Most employers understand...Read more
  • How to spot and tackle imposter syndrome in the workplace PROMOTED | Half of all UK adults...Read more
  • BetterMe for Business: How to Build Wellness Culture at Work PROMOTED | Ever encountered a...Read more
  • Talent acquisition: How AI can complement a ‘back to basics’ approach PROMOTED | Artificial intelligence is now...Read more

Personnel Today Jobs
 

Search Jobs

PERSONNEL TODAY

About us
Contact us
Browse all HR topics
Email newsletters
Content feeds
Cookies policy
Privacy policy
Terms and conditions

JOBS

Personnel Today Jobs
Post a job
Why advertise with us?

EVENTS & PRODUCTS

The Personnel Today Awards
The RAD Awards
Employee Benefits
Forum for Expatriate Management
OHW+
Whatmedia

ADVERTISING & PR

Advertising opportunities
Features list 2023

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin


© 2011 - 2023 DVV Media International Ltd

Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
    • Advertise
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • XpertHR
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Pricing
    • Free trial
    • Subscribe
    • XpertHR USA
  • Webinars
  • OHW+