Care sector leaders warn of crisis as overseas recruitment ban unveiled

Care sector leaders have expressed concern over the Government’s plan to end the recruitment of care workers from overseas.

The move, which is part of a wider drive to reduce net migration and encourage domestic employment, was included in the Immigration White Paper published this week.

Since 9 April, English care providers intending to recruit a new worker from abroad have had to prove that they have tried to employ someone already in the country who needs new visa sponsorship.

The Home Office said that 470 care providers have had their licence to sponsor international staff revoked since 2022, meaning there are around 40,000 displaced workers available.

However, the White Paper states that “more needs to be done” to tackle net migration and that includes ending overseas recruitment across social care.

Professor Martin Green, chief executive of Care England, warned this could deal a “crushing blow” to a sector already facing widespread financial and recruitment challenges.

He said: “For years, the sector has been propping itself up with dwindling resources, rising costs, and mounting vacancies. International recruitment wasn’t a silver bullet, but it was a lifeline. Taking it away now, with no warning, no funding, and no alternative, is not just short-sighted – it’s cruel.”

Cllr David Fothergill, chair of the Local Government Association’s (LGA) Community Wellbeing Board, added: “This sector is at breaking point, with vacancies, turnover, and low pay creating growing pressures that have led to a significant amount of unmet and under-met need.

“We are calling on the Government to work quickly and closely with councils on a fair pay agreement for care workers to attract and retain skilled professionals, implementing a fully funded workforce strategy for the sector, and providing councils with the resources they need to reduce their reliance on costly agency staff.”

Describing international recruitment as a “lifeline”, Jane Townson, chief executive of membership body the Homecare Association, said: “We are deeply concerned the government has not properly considered what will happen to the millions of people who depend on care at home to live safely and independently.”

Net migration to the UK peaked at 906,000 in the year to June 2023 before falling to 728,000 in 2024.