Homecare Association response to the call for evidence on the immigration system and social care
The Homecare Association have responded to the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration’s Call for Evidence regarding the interaction between the immigration system and social care.
International recruitment remains of importance to the social care sector at present, as the size of the domestic workforce has continued to decrease at a time of rising demand. Risks of international recruitment are lower in some settings of care than others. For example, international recruitment can work well in live-in care, supported living, 24/7 complex care and care homes. In such services, peer support is available on site, hours of work are continuous in shifts, and fee rates are higher, particularly when serving the private pay market. Recruits are generally well-qualified, skilled and have added real value to services struggling with local labour shortages.
For regular visiting homecare, especially in areas where councils use framework contracts and purchase on a zero-hours basis at low fee rates, we have significant concerns about risk. In this type of commissioning environment, there is no guarantee of number or continuity of hours, and thus of income. In some parts of the country, there isn’t enough work for international recruits to fulfil the conditions of a sponsorship licence. In one case, a council experiencing a surge in requests from providers for more work, wrote to all providers to tell them only to hire if they have guaranteed work, emphasising that a council has no obligation to find work for international recruits. Inadequate availability of work is obviously unsustainable for international recruits or providers.
We believe the Home Office and UKVI should consider:
- Type of care provider and the nature of services they are providing.
- As a minimum, a check with the relevant local authority about local demand and supply.
- Number of visas requested in relation to size of operation, bearing in mind that 85% of the care sector are SMEs with fewer than 50 employees.
- CQC/HMRC cross-checks on provider activity before and after visas are granted.
Clear communication and explanation of the process in sector-specific terms is vital. Previous work undertaken in this area, such as the MAC report, highlights important points and should be responded to.
