NORTH Yorkshire care providers are bracing themselves for a dreadful winter as a perfect storm of issues hit the care of the county's most vulnerable.

The Independent Care Group issued a winter warning over the impact a staffing shortage ill have on quality and availability of levels of care for the most vulnerable people in communities.

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It says the Government's "no jab, no job" policy is bound to have an impact on staffing levels at a time when the sector as a dire shortage.

ICG chair Mike Padgham said: "For social care across North Yorkshire we can only see a dreadful winter ahead unless we see a social care climate change.

“As we head into winter we know there are at least 1,000 care worker vacancies across the county – which is a figure that places many providers in great difficulty when it comes to maintaining staffing levels.

“The ‘no jab, no job’ policy is bound to add to that at a time when care providers need all the staff they can get.

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“Let us not forget that we are still coping with the additional rigours of Covid-19."

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