Care Home Entry for Professional Visitors and Tradespeople
From 11 November 2021 professional visitors and tradespeople will need to provide proof of double Covid vaccination, or medical exemption, before they can enter a CQC registered care home on a professional basis. This is a legal requirement.
Without proof they will be unable to enter the home.
The requirement excludes anyone working outside the care home, people providing emergency assistance, or undertaking urgent maintenance work inside the care home. If you are delivering goods outside the home, you are not affected.
Your proof of Covid vaccination (NHS Covid Pass) can be obtained from the NHS app, via your NHS login, or by requesting a letter from the NHS. Your company photo ID (or photo driving licence) will also be required to verify the NHS Covid Pass is yours. People who are medically exempt are required to provide proof of exemption (government are still to advise what this will be). Reasons for the medical exemption are not required.
So we won’t have to ask for proof every time you visit us we will keep a register stating who has provided their NHS Covid Pass, or exemption. This is also a requirement under the legislation.
The register will be kept securely by the registered manager (or equivalent person) in compliance with current data protection regulations. Responsibility for compliance and enforcement of the new rules will rest with the Care Quality Commission (CQC). Failure to comply may result in criminal enforcement against the provider or registered manager in the most serious of cases.
Further guidance on how this affects care home professional visits can be obtained from Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination of people working or deployed in care homes: operational guidance (publishing.service.gov.uk)
Thank you for your time in helping to ensure care homes can continue to run without further disruption.
