ALLIANCE response on the impact of Brexit on adult social care

The response highlights the importance of international workers and volunteers to the adult social care sector.

The ALLIANCE has responded to the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) consultation on the impact of the ending of freedom of movement on adult social care.

The MAC has been commissioned  by the UK Government to undertake a review of adult social care and the impact the ending of freedom of movement has had on the sector (this link will take you away from our website).

Together with Camphill Scotland and the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO), the ALLIANCE had written to the UK Government last year, urging that the review take a four-nations approach given the devolved nature of social care. In their commissioning letter (this link will take you away from your website), the UK Government confirmed the MAC can make recommendations relating to devolved matters, and freely consult with the devolved administrations.

Our response includes the following key points:

• COVID-19 has shone light on and exacerbated pre-existing issues with staffing levels and recruitment in the adult social care sector, which creating additional pressures. There are ongoing, long term issues with workforce recruitment, retention, training and quality in social care.
• Most social care roles are excluded from the Health and Care Worker visa. This will make it difficult for social care providers to recruit international staff. This will exacerbate existing staff shortages and add to the pressures already faced by the sector. The additional layers of bureaucracy and documentation required are likely to deter EU nationals from applying for a job in the UK health and social care sectors.
• There is concern about EU nationals in social care posts who do not qualify for ‘settled status’ under the EU settlement scheme. Those with ‘pre-settled’ status may be deterred from remaining in post if their right to work in the UK is not guaranteed.
• Changes to the UK immigration system are having a substantial impact on international volunteers working in health and social care settings. We are concerned that the decision to exclude international volunteers from the immigration health surcharge exemption will deter future international volunteers from working as volunteers in the UK.
• Wider, systemic issues make recruitment challenging in adult social care. The UK social care sector was facing numerous challenges pre-Brexit, including acute staff shortages. The ending of freedom of movement is likely to worsen the ability of social care organisations to fill vacancies.

You can read the full response below.

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