Care England are urging the Government to do more to support the workforce crisis in social care.

Care England, the largest representative body for independent providers of adult social care, are asking the Secretary for Health and Social care to take on board the following suggestions to ease the Social Care Workforce Crisis and to implement them as soon as possible: 

• Expanding the workforce by recruiting from abroad. The sector will need an additional 35,000 to 70,000 workers following the Vaccination as a Condition of Deployment. Reducing the qualifying level for overseas recruitment for social care staff (£25,600). Also, adding all care workers to the Shortage Occupation List and reducing the salary threshold for immigration 
• Waiving the Immigration Skills Charge for care workers 
• Fast-track system to grant visas under sponsorship licenses for people working in social care
• Bonuses/increase pay 
• Direct support to help fund those suffering from PTSD 
• The need for the continuation of COVID funds.

Professor Martin Green OBE, Chief Executive of Care England, said:

“Quite simply care providers are at breaking point. The writing is on the wall and without immediate help, as given to the NHS, the social care sector will crumple and not be there to support the NHS over the winter let alone in years to come."

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