The National Care Forum (NCF), an association for not-for-profit social care, has responded to government plans that will imminently end the recruitment of overseas workers into care jobs in the UK.
In a white paper published yesterday the government sets out how it plans to bring down historically high levels of net migration by putting an end to recruitment of overseas workers. Those who are working on an existing visa will be able to extend their stay and care providers are being encouraged to fill vacancies from the existing pool of overseas care workers already sponsored to work legally in the UK, although it is unclear what happens after the 2028 transition period for the new policy.
Vic Rayner, CEO of NCF, said: “The plans set out in the immigration white paper published today will do little to reassure people drawing on care and support, let alone care workers and employers, that social care is a priority for this government right now. Government has a responsibility to step up to its immigration policy decision making and realise the need for urgent workforce planning and immediate improvements to care worker pay, terms and conditions to cover the shortfall that will be caused by these proposals rather than relying on references to a Fair Pay Agreement which is unlikely to come into effect for a number of years.
“This policy is shortsighted in that it overlooks the current levels of unmet care and support need. Additionally, government seems to be ignoring recommendations made by its own Migration Advisory Committee which has called repeatedly in recent years for immediate improvements to care worker pay and workforce planning by the state to bolster the domestic workforce. Whilst the current government is more clear about intent, the major gap between rhetoric and reality will do little to calm the real concerns of those who have been actively involved in strengthening their workforce through the valuable contribution of international colleagues. There also still seems to be a fundamental misunderstanding of the nature of care work with various government spokespeople using the term ‘low-skilled’ when referring to care work. We challenge the language being used here and would urge the government to improve its understanding of care work as a highly skilled profession requiring deep knowledge of a wide range of complex needs.”
