The Challenge of Caring: Migrant Workers in the UK Social Care System

Changing Policies and Growing Concerns

In recent months, proposals from the UK government have raised significant concerns among overseas workers in the adult social care sector. Migrants, whose crucial contributions have long supported the UK’s healthcare infrastructure, now express fears over new regulations aiming to tighten immigration rules. The current system grants these workers the right to live and work in the UK indefinitely after five years on a sponsored visa. However, a new white paper suggests increasing this tenure requirement to ten years, a change intended to reduce reliance on international labor and foster homegrown talent.

Personal Stories of Anxiety

One such worker, Sumedha Aryaratne from Sri Lanka, arrived in Dawlish, Devon, with his family to pursue a career in domiciliary care. Since moving in March 2023, Aryaratne worries daily about the implications of new immigration rules. "I’m stressed. I’m thinking about it all the time," he confided. Employed under a care sponsorship visa, Aryaratne emphasizes his family’s integration into local society—his wife works, their children are making friends, and they are contributing to the community. "This will affect everyone across the board," he insists, highlighting the essential role that migrant workers play in the ongoing care crisis.

Statistics and Impact

Statistically, the landscape appears grim for international workers. The Home Office reports that 27,174 health and care worker visas were granted in 2024, marking an 81% drop from the previous year. This sharp decline reflects not only a tightening of border control but also a growing unease among those who have made the UK their home. Jini Jose, who relocated from India to Torquay nearly three years ago, echoed these sentiments. She remarked, "This news is very sad… If we are not allowed to stay, we will have no option but to go back."

The View from Care Homes

The human element of this issue extends into care settings themselves. Gabriela Ogreanu, manager of a care home in Dawlish, speaks to the dire necessity of migrant workers in the sector. “We try to recruit locally from Dawlish but we barely have one or two applicants,” she states. According to Ogreanu, the looming policy changes are causing anxiety among her staff. "You open the borders, you allow these people to come in… But then you suddenly decide that actually it’s too many of them and can we send some home. It’s wrong."

Naeem Ahmad, who runs another nursing facility in Cornwall, described government messages on migration as "wholly negative," a sentiment that diminishes morale within his team of international staff.

The consensus among care home managers is clear: they struggle to secure a local workforce capable of filling these positions. Katrina Hall, who founded the Bay Care Group in Torbay, points out the staggering reality that losing 156 international workers would cut her provision by 40 percent. "We’ve literally become a revolving door for people looking to continue claiming their benefits," she lamented, illustrating the difficulties faced in seeking local talent.

Client Perspectives

Clients of these services, like Irena Cox who receives care in her home, speak to the vital role these workers play in their lives. “They’ve been good enough to come over and work here. It means a lot, especially when you are vulnerable,” Cox reflected. Her experience highlights the broader implications for care services should these visa regulations tighten further.

Policy Justifications and Political Statements

In light of these adjustments, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has stated it is time to reassess immigration policies, emphasizing a shift towards hiring British nationals exclusively and extending visas for those already present in the country. This approach aims to curtail net migration, which reached unprecedented levels, reportedly climbing to 906,000 by June 2023.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer frames these new plans as a means of regaining control over the immigration system, alluding to aspirations for a more selective and fair approach toward who can enter the UK.

Conclusion: A Community on the Edge

The implications of these potential changes are profound, not just for migrant workers and their families but also for the wider community reliant on their essential services. As care homes continue to grapple with staffing issues, the interplay of policy and personal experience paints a complex picture of the future of social care in the UK. The voices of those affected—both caregivers and clients—underscore the necessity for a more nuanced approach that considers the invaluable contributions of overseas workers.