Homecare Association responds to the Skilled Worker Visa Inquiry

The Homecare Association have responded to the Public Accounts Committee's call for evidence for their Skilled Worker Visa Inquiry. 

In our response we highlight the urgent need for joined up policy thinking across Government. The Genuine Vacancy test used by the Home Office asks the sector to prove that they have guaranteed hours of work, when the public sector (who purchase 80% of homecare) commission on a zero-hours basis with no guaranteed work. We believe this has been a key factor in the fall in visa numbers since late 2023. Domestic recruitment remains challenging. As the current international cohort move towards settlement, some are likely to move to different professions and sectors. Without action to address the underlying issue of genuine vacancies and domestic recruitment/retention challenges, the sector risks facing another workforce crisis within the next 12-24 months.

We remain concerned the decision to restrict dependants for care workers under the March 2024 immigration rules signals a lack of parity and respect compared to other health and care professions.

We fully support the National Audit Office (NAO) call for a joined-up approach to addressing exploitation in the sector.

Providers report ongoing issues in their dealing with the Home Office – including administrative complexity, delays and poor customer service, and rising costs.  

International examples from Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Germany show more flexible sponsor-worker relationships. The UK could adapt these to suit the homecare sector’s needs.