In a major shift in immigration policy, UK care homes are now facing a ban on overseas recruitment as part of the government’s migration plans. Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper, announced that providers in the sector should focus on employing foreign staff who are already in the country or extending visas for existing workers.
Speaking on Sky News’s Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips, Cooper emphasized the importance of prioritizing higher-skilled migration and investing in training opportunities for the UK workforce. She stated, “We’re going to introduce new restrictions on lower-skilled workers because we believe in training in the UK. We will be closing the care worker visa for overseas recruitment, but care companies can still recruit from workers already in the country or extend existing visas.”
This change in policy is expected to have a significant impact on the care sector, with up to 50,000 fewer lower-skilled visas projected over the next year. While the decision may concern employers who rely on overseas recruitment, the government believes that prioritizing training and investing in the UK workforce will ultimately benefit the sector.
With the closure of the care worker visa for overseas recruitment, providers in the care sector will need to adapt their recruitment strategies and focus on developing the skills of the domestic workforce. By investing in training and upskilling opportunities for UK workers, care homes can ensure a sustainable and skilled workforce for the future.
Overall, the government’s migration plans aim to reduce reliance on overseas recruitment and promote the development of the UK workforce. While this change may pose challenges for the care sector, it also presents an opportunity for providers to invest in training and development, ultimately benefiting both workers and the quality of care provided in UK care
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