Survey of NCF Membership – Impact of the Omicron variant (13 January 2022)

Summary

The National Care Forum (NCF) represents not-for-profit organisations providing care and support services to adults in the UK. The NCF conducted a survey of its members over a five day period from 5-10 January 2022, considering the impact of the Covid-19 Omicron variant. Its results highlighted increased pressure faced by the care sector in this period, with staff absence being compounded by existing high vacancy rates and difficulties and delays with testing.

Content

Key results of this survey include:

• 66% of homecare providers who responded are now having to refuse new requests for home care.
• 43% of care home providers are closing to new admissions.
• 21% of providers of homecare are handing back existing care packages.
• an 18% vacancy rate and 14% absence rate amongst providers who responded, as a result of the Omicron variant (overall a shortage of around a third of all staff, on average, across the survey).