Caressant Care Implements Mandatory Vaccination Policy For all Staff, Students and Volunteers

Tuesday, 7 September 2021 11:04

Employees who are not fully vaccinated by November 1st will be placed on unpaid leave.

WOODSTOCK - Caressant Care Nursing and Retirement Homes is making vaccination mandatory for anyone working in their homes.

Several other long term care home organizations have developed a similar policy. Staff will have until November 1st to get fully vaccinated. This will also apply to all students and volunteers who will need to show a proof vaccination to enter any of the Caressant Care nursing and retirement homes, including the one in Woodstock.

Those who are not fully vaccinated and do not fall under the exemption criteria including medical and religious reasons will be placed on unpaid leave.

Communications and Marketing Manager Stuart Oakley explains why they have made this decision.

"With cases continuing to rise as we head into fall and concerns over the Delta and other variants of COVID-19 Caressant Care recognizes the importance of immunization of staff, student placements, and volunteers due to the nature of their work with vulnerable seniors and potential for exposure in the community. This COVID-19 policy aims to protect the home’s population including residents, staff, and volunteers."

This policy applies to:
- Workers/staff (employees, people retained on a contracted services basis, and people employed by an employment agency or other third party)
- Newly hired staff (prior to commencing orientation in the home). Effective November 1, 2021, all offers of employment will be conditional upon proof of vaccination against COVID -19.
- Students on an educational placement at the Home (prior to starting student placement in the home)
- Volunteers (prior to commencing volunteering in the home)
- Every employee in our organization has chosen older adult care as their profession and therefore has a responsibility to protect those entrusted in their care.