Settlement petition - please support fair treatment for care workers

Many overseas careworkers came to the UK expecting a five‑year settlement pathway. Changing this risks damaging trust, increasing uncertainty, and pushing people away from a sector that already struggles to recruit and retain staff.

We know that some careworkers will leave the UK if they face a 15-year route to settlement. We also expect some careworkers to move on to different job roles when they have indefinite leave to remain. This is not solely about which of these options loses the least staff.

We cannot accept careworkers being targeted for worse treatment than other professions or a narrative that describes the sector as low-skill, low-value and less important than the NHS. The long-term answer must be a system that values care properly as part of the health and social care system, funds it fairly, and enables providers to recruit and retain staff on the right terms. That includes a workforce plan, fair commissioning, realistic fee rates, and a workforce offer that recognises and reflects the skill and responsibility of care work.

This petition gives us an opportunity to make that case clearly and collectively. We call for careworkers to be treated equally with health colleagues working in the public sector.

Please take a moment to sign the petition and share it with your teams, partners and networks.

If the petition reaches 10,000 signatures, the government must respond. At 100,000 signatures, Parliament may debate it. Every signature strengthens our ability to show that the sector, and the public, expect fair treatment for careworkers.