Mandatory Vaccinations at Client Trusts

We write to inform you that Client Trusts are starting to impose/consider requirements for mandatory vaccination. Therefore, should one of our Client Trusts impose mandatory vaccination for its own staff, NHS Professionals will mirror this requirement on the basis that it applies only to those aged 18 or over in patient-facing roles and there is an exception for those who are exempt from vaccination for clinical reasons. 

We would like to take this opportunity to inform you of the approach NHS Professionals will be taking on this matter and advise you of how this may impact our Bank Members. 

Background

As you may already be aware, the Government has made the decision to make COVID-19 vaccinations mandatory across CQC regulated care homes via The Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) (Amendment) (Coronavirus) Regulations 2021 (the Regulations). The Regulations come into force on 11 November 2021.  

The Government has commenced a six-week consultation on whether to extend that to other health and social care workers, commenting that it has a responsibility to do all it can to safeguard those receiving care, including in the NHS.

We believe that the Government may introduce a requirement for other health and social care workers in line with the changes already introduced for care homes in the near future.

NHS Professionals’ position

Should one of our Client Trusts impose mandatory vaccination for its own staff, NHS Professionals will mirror this requirement on the basis that it applies only to those aged 18 or over in patient-facing roles. Please be aware, NHS Professionals will have an exception/opt out for those who are exempt from vaccination for clinical reasons. 

NHS Professionals will match our Client Trusts’ approach to help prevent the spread of infection and to continue to do all we can to continue to safeguard those receiving care in our Client Trusts.

Should this requirement be imposed at a Trust where you undertake assignments, you will be contacted by NHS Professionals on this matter.    

What this means for me

In the event that one of the Client Trusts where you undertake assignments imposes a requirement for mandatory vaccination in patient facing roles, you may be restricted from working in such roles and informed of non-patient facing assignments.   

Should you be registered through NHS Professionals as a Bank Only worker you will have the option of working at one of our other Client Trusts which does not mandate mandatory vaccinations.

Coronavirus vaccinations

To avoid this potential scenario, we strongly urge Bank Members who have not done so already and are not clinically exempt from vaccination to book their vaccination appointments now.

We understand that this is ultimately your choice, but we encourage you to make an informed decision by:

  • reading up about COVID-19 vaccinations via official sources;
  • paying attention to the information the NHS provides you with when you are offered a vaccine; and
  • being wary of misinformation around COVID-19 vaccinations put out by unreliable sources.

Further information on the national COVID-19 vaccination programme is set out at:

In addition, there is information on local arrangements in England.

Notification, collection of data and information sharing

NHS Professionals will collate information on your COVID-19 vaccination status as well as details of any clinical exemptions or other objections through NHS Professionals’ COVID-19 Bank Member Self-Assessment.

  • Both NHS Professionals and our Client Trusts are committed to protecting the health, safety and wellbeing of all our Bank Members. Through the collation of vaccination data, we are able to organise our Bank Members and ensure continuity of service and the protection of the health and safety of patients and Bank Members.

As you may be aware, Bank members’ vaccination status will be ‘special category data’ for the purposes of GDPR, so data will be securely stored, and access limited to those who ‘need to know’ for recruitment or deployment purposes. Further detail on how bank member data is used, can be found on our Privacy Notice - Bank Members and Applicants

NHS Professionals

10/09/21