FEATURE Extend the Deadline
Amy Stokes, a partner specialising in business immigration and employment law at Forbes Solicitors, looks at why the care sector needs an extension to the temporary changes to the UK Health and Care Worker Visa, which come to an end this February.
On 15 February last year, several professional roles, ranging from care assistant, through to home carer and nursing home support worker, were added to the Home Office Skilled Worker list of occupations for 12 months. This makes it quicker and easier for care organisations to recruit qualified health and care workers from overseas.
The temporary measures were introduced to help organisations and employers meet demand for care services amidst a significant workforce shortage. A report published by The Health and Social Care Committee on 25 July 2022 showed that an extra 475,000 jobs are needed in health, and an extra 490,000 jobs are required in social care by the early part of the next decade.
Since then, as many care professionals will probably be aware, the situation has shown little sign of improvement. Analysis published by Skills for Care in October 2022 reveals that the number of unfilled roles in the adult social care sector has risen to the highest rate since records started in 2012/13. The number of vacancies increased by 52% in 2021/22, rising from 110,000 to 165,000 vacant posts.
The strategy of addressing this gap in the workforce with the speedier recruitment of overseas professionals is not a perfect solution. However, it can provide a workable stopgap, whilst steps are taken to implement a long-term plan for enhancing the domestic talent pool.
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The Department of Health & Social Care is running a national recruitment campaign, Made with Care, to encourage people with the right skills and values to consider a career in care. Although initiatives such as this are welcomed, they take time to yield results and fill skills gaps. This is time that care providers do not have, which is being more effectively addressed by the temporary changes to the UK Health and Care Worker visa arrangements.
“The number of adult social care vacancies increased by 52% in
2021/22, rising from 110,000 to 165,000 vacant posts.”
The changes expediate decision making on visa applications. Typically, organisations and an applicant from overseas can expect to receive a decision in around three weeks, lessening the total time it takes to put a person in post. It is also more straightforward for immediate family, such as partners and dependants if they’re eligible, to join successful visa applicants
www.tomorrowscare.co.uk
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