The home care sector has lost over 17,500 workers since September, NHS England data has revealed.

According to reports by care providers and councils, some 406,365 domiciliary care staff were working in registered care settings (other than care homes) in the last week of January, compared to 424,029 in September.

Low pay and staff burnout due to the Covid-19 pandemic have contributed to a reduction in the country’s home care workers, as well as mandatory vaccine concerns prompting some workers to quit the sector.

The Homecare Association, which represents home care providers, said that “many people receiving care have experienced substantial worry about losing staff with whom they have built valuable relationships and dedicated care workers have feared for their jobs, which they love, some after many years of service.

“Sector specialists of all types are frequently consulted and frequently ignored by the government, which creates unnecessary risk, as policy change is driven by those without relevant knowledge or experience.”

In his announcement on 31 January, health secretary Sajid Javid said: “I am announcing that we will launch a consultation on ending vaccination as a Condition of Deployment in health and all social care settings.

“I have always been clear that our rules must remain proportionate and balanced – and of course, should we see another dramatic change in the virus, it would be responsible to review this policy again.”

The Department of Health and Social Care (DXSC) also advised home care providers against serving notice on unvaccinated employees, in connection with the Vaccination as a Condition Of Deployment (VCOD) regulations, in a letter dated 2 February, despite the government’s planned consultation about revoking the mandate not yet having taken place.

The deadline for all NHS home care workers to have the first dose of vaccine was 3 February, with employers ready to start dismissal procedures with unvaccinated staff.

Dr Jane Townson, chief executive of the Homecare Association, welcomed the government’s move to ditch the sector’s jab mandate but has called for “immediate clarity” from the government about the short-term implications of the government’s U-turn.

Dr Townson said: “Some employers have already initiated dismissal processes where employees have notice periods of three months, which is more common for live-in care”.