The United Kingdom’s care sector stands at a crossroads, influenced by recent government interventions aimed at reshaping the workforce. Two pivotal developments have emerged: the introduction of new laws to curtail migration, address visa and worker abuse, and the government’s blueprint for nurturing the domestic care workforce.
In a decisive move, the UK government has enacted new legislation to significantly reduce net migration and combat visa exploitation within the care workforce1. This reform seeks to cut down on net migration and tackle visa abuse. It will restrict care workers from bringing dependants. Last year, 120,000 dependents accompanied 100,000 workers on this route which was viewed as a disproportionate amount. The new legislation will mandate that care providers sponsoring migrants to register with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to prevent visa abuse and worker exploitation, while preventing undercutting of British workers. Evidence has been found that care workers have been offered visas under false pretences, travelling thousands of miles for jobs that simply don’t exist or to be paid far below the minimum wage required for their work. The government emphasised that roles should only be included where they are skilled and in shortage, and that no sector should be permanently reliant on immigration.
These changes come into force as the government were set to lay rules in Parliament on the 14th March 2024, which includes raising the salary threshold that a skilled worker must meet in order to get a visa and removing the 20% ‘going-rate’ discount for migrant workers in shortage occupations.
Parallel to immigration control, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has unveiled plans to fortify the domestic care workforce2.
For the first time, a national care career structure will be established, providing clear roles, professional development opportunities and a care workforce pathway to support career progression. A new, accredited qualification, the Level 2 Adult Social Care Certificate, will be delivered in conjunction with Skills for Care and launch in June, supported by over £50 million in funding. Investment of over £20 million for apprenticeships which can be used by local authorities and adult social care providers for training and supervising of new apprentices. An uplift to the Workforce Development Fund will expand access to learning and development. A new digital leadership qualification to help embrace the latest technology also forms part of the plan. This will be significant as it will help building capability for implementation and use of technology in care delivery.
The government has launched the second phase of the Made with Care recruitment campaign to inspire more people in the UK to consider a rewarding career in care. Further support is available for local authorities via the Market Sustainability and Improvement Fund to support them make tangible improvements to adult social care services in their area, in particular to build capacity and build market sustainability. The purpose of this fund will be to address discharge delays, social care waiting times, low fee rates, workforce pressures, and to promote technological innovation in the sector.
The UK’s approach to reforming the care workforce is twofold: safeguarding the sector from external pressures while investing in its internal growth. By tightening immigration laws and enriching the domestic workforce with training and clear career paths, the government seeks to create a more ethical, sustainable, and skilled care sector. As these plans unfold, the hope is that they will lead to a stronger, more resilient care system, capable of meeting the nation’s needs with compassion and competence.
When technology is integrated into care delivery it can be transformative, improving the safety, quality and personalisation of care. There are wider benefits such as improvements in productivity, information sharing and user experience too. PredicAire’s comprehensive care management system, has an in-build staff management module which will help you monitor training, manage compliance and key documentation, optimise workers’ shifts and much more! Get this right and you will enjoy the benefits of longevity in your team.
If you’d like to speak to us to improve the workforce management and governance of your care operations, email us at hello@predicaire.ai or book a demo.