Care Staff Highlight How Visa Changes Will Have Damaging Effect on Sector
UNISON General Secretary Andrea Egan heard first-hand the experiences of sponsored care workers when she visited MHA Willowcroft care home in Derby.
She spoke to them about the challenges they have overcome to build lives and careers in the UK, and the uncertainty the proposed changes to the earned settlement scheme are now creating for them and their families.
The home is run by Methodist Homes (MHA) and the charity has been campaigning alongside UNISON to highlight the potential impact on care workers and care providers if the Government proceeds with proposals to increase the qualifying period for people on a sponsored Health and Social Care Visa from five to 15 years.
Both UNISON and MHA have been calling for the qualifying time for indefinite leave to remain to stay at five years to avoid destabilising the care workforce and putting increased pressure on the social care sector. In addition, both organisations are calling for a sector-wide visa scheme that would allow care workers to move more freely between employers, alongside a fully funded fair pay agreement for social care workers.
Sam Monaghan, chief executive of MHA, one of the country’s largest charitable care providers, said: “We heard some incredibly powerful and moving stories from colleagues who have overcome significant challenges, built lives in their local communities and become hugely valued members of our teams. We were delighted to host Andrea so she could hear directly from them about what the proposed changes could mean for them and their families, and the very real uncertainty this is already creating.
“As a provider we are also concerned. Our sponsored colleagues have made an enormous contribution to MHA, ensuring that those who live in our homes are supported by carers they know and trust, who understand their needs, rather than agency workers who are less familiar and can change week on week.
“After Covid-19, when a lot of European colleagues headed home after Brexit, and others left the sector exhausted by their experience of the pandemic, we, along with other providers, found ourselves in the midst of a workforce crisis. It is our fear that with the changes to visas for overseas care workers, we are walking into another predictable and preventable scenario of a similar magnitude and impact.
“At the height of the workforce crisis, our costs in relation to agency staffing had risen by 37% to £30 million. Since then, we have recruited more than 700 sponsored colleagues to ensure consistency of care and manage our costs.
“Today brought home that this debate is not simply about immigration policy or workforce numbers. It is about people who have put down roots, built careers and become part of their communities, but who are now facing significant uncertainty about their future.”
UNISON General Secretary Andrea Egan said: “The stories shared by care workers at MHA Willowcroft were deeply moving.
“International staff have overcome enormous challenges to build lives and careers in the UK. They’ve put down roots in their communities and make a real difference to the lives of the people in their care.
“But now visa changes leave uncertainty over their futures and those of their families.
“They were promised the chance to settle and build a future here when they came to this country. Staff deserve security and respect. The government must honour its pledge.”
