UK to expand Health and Care Visa Scheme to allow for the recruitment of more care workers

NIGERIAN care assistants and nursing home staff may be coming to Britain in large numbers this year after the UK Department of Health and Social Care announced plans to expand its Health and Care Visa Scheme to recruit more care workers.

Due to the growing effect of Covid-19 and a shortage of care workers, the UK government is desperately searching for care assistants and nursing home staff from anywhere in the world. In many cases, the staff  are being welcomed even if they have little or no professional training and are recruited on a minimum salary of £20,480 per year.

In August 2020, the Health and Care Worker Visa Scheme was first was unveiled as part of measures to combat the coronavirus pandemic. As an extension of the programme this scheme has been expanded into one that permits medical professionals to come to UK and work with the National Health Service (NHS), an NHS supplier or in adult social care.

This scheme offers 50% visa fee reduction, an exemption from the Immigration Health Surcharge and a speedier decision following application. The offer is open to care assistant, care worker, carer, home care assistant, home carer and support worker (nursing home).

Sajid Javid, the UK , health and social care secretary, said:“Thousands of additional care workers could be recruited to boost the adult social care workforce following temporary changes to the health and care visa to make social care workers, care assistants and home care workers eligible for a 12-month period. This will make it quicker, cheaper and easier for social care employers to recruit eligible workers to fill vital gaps.

“The coronavirus pandemic has highlighted a range of staff shortages within the social care sector, placing pressures on the existing workforce, despite the incredible and tireless efforts of social care staff. This boost follows the recommendation from the Migration Advisory Committee to make care workers and home carers eligible for the Health and Care visa and add the occupation to the Shortage Occupation List.

“Inclusion on the Shortage Occupation List will stipulate an annual salary minimum of £20,480 for carers to qualify for the Health and Care Visa. The UK is committed to becoming a high-skilled, high-wage economy and minimum salaries must reflect the professional skills that are required to provide quality care.

“The health and care visa will allow applicants and their dependents to benefit from fast-track processing, dedicated resources in processing applications and reduced visa fees. The temporary measures are expected to come into effect early next year and will be in place for a minimum of 12 months, providing a much-needed staffing boost while the sector deals with the additional pressures of the pandemic, at which point they will be reviewed.

“It is vital we continue to do all we can to protect the social care sector during the pandemic and beyond. These measures, together with the series of support packages announced since September, will help us ensure short term sustainability and success for our long-term vision to build social care back better.

“I also urge all care staff yet to do so to come forward to Get Boosted Now to protect themselves and those they care for. Care providers who do not already hold a sponsor licence in the skilled worker route can prepare to take advantage of the offer by registering for a sponsorship licence ahead of implementation.

“Providers who are new to visa sponsorship will be supported through the process through a series of engagement activities in January and February, to introduce them to the system and find out how to act as a visa sponsor. Care workers and carers recruited to the UK will be able to bring their dependents, including partner and children, with the Health and Care visa offering a pathway to settlement should they remain employed and wish to remain in the UK."

Home Secretary Priti Patel, added: “The care sector is experiencing unprecedented challenges prompted by the pandemic and the changes we’ve made to the health and care visa will bolster the workforce and helping alleviate some of the pressures currently being experienced. This is our New Plan for Immigration in action, delivering our commitment to support the NHS and the wider health and care sector by making it easier for health professionals to live and work in the UK.

“The move follows an investment of £465.2m in supporting recruitment and retention of social care staff through the challenging winter period. This is on top of the £500m for workforce training, qualifications and wellbeing announced as part of the Health and Social Care Levy.

“This funding is in addition to £6bn committed to councils through un-ringfenced grants to tackle the impact of Covid-19 on their services, including adult social care, with total funding for adult social care over the pandemic coming to over £2.5bn. This follows wider plans to improve social care and fulfil the 10-year vision set out in the adult social care reform white paper - People at the Heart of Care - which provided details on how over £1bn for system reform will be spent over the next three years to improve the lives of those who receive care, as well as their families and carers."