Overseas Recruitment in Social Care: What the Government’s Immigration White Paper Means for Providers
The UK Government is set to publish its Immigration White Paper tomorrow (Monday 12 May), outlining a significant change in the recruitment of overseas care workers as part of wider efforts to reduce net migration. The policy marks a major shift in the care sector’s workforce planning, with the closure of new overseas recruitment for care roles.
This decision follows a period of intense scrutiny of international recruitment practices in adult social care. Since 2022, the Home Office has suspended over 470 sponsor licences from care providers, citing widespread concerns about non-compliance, exploitation and unmet employment promises. Many workers arrived in the UK with high expectations and personal financial investment, only to discover that jobs were not as described – or didn’t exist at all.
The government has positioned this change as both a safeguarding measure for migrant workers and a strategic shift toward building a sustainable, homegrown care workforce. It has pledged to protect international workers already in the UK by allowing them to extend their stay, change sponsors, and pursue settlement, including those affected by revoked licences.
However, the implications for providers are significant. In 2023 alone, more than 58,000 care workers arrived in the UK on skilled worker visas – nearly half of all new entrants to the sector. The planned recruitment freeze has prompted strong responses from across the industry.
Unions and sector leaders have warned that removing access to international recruitment, without an immediate and funded domestic workforce strategy, could leave existing services under even greater strain. Professor Martin Green, CEO of Care England, described the move as “not just short-sighted – it’s cruel”, highlighting that many services have depended on international staff to stay operational amid ongoing workforce shortages.
UNISON, the UK’s largest union for health and care workers, echoed these concerns. General Secretary Christina McAnea urged the government to offer urgent reassurance to migrant workers already in the UK and called for accelerated action on the promised Fair Pay Agreements – a new mechanism designed to improve pay and conditions in adult social care.
The White Paper is expected to reiterate commitments to domestic workforce development, including the expansion of the Care Workforce Pathway and the establishment of Fair Pay Agreements. These initiatives aim to professionalise the sector and improve retention among UK-based care workers.
An independent commission into adult social care, led by Baroness Louise Casey, has also been launched. Its aim: to take a long-term, cross-party view on reforming a sector many agree has been underfunded and undervalued for too long.
For care providers, the immediate challenge will be navigating the transition away from overseas recruitment, while maintaining safe staffing levels and preparing for further regulatory scrutiny around workforce planning and sponsorship compliance.
At HLTH Group, we remain committed to supporting providers through regulatory change. Whether you need guidance on sponsor licence obligations, strategic workforce planning, or training and compliance, our team of former CQC inspectors, clinicians and compliance experts are here to help.