In regard to the statement made by Home Secretary, the Rt Hon Shabana Mahmood MP, on changes to Indefinite Leave to Remain, the Chair of SESCA, Erica Lockhart MBE said:
“We welcome the Government’s decision to retain a five-year route to settlement for international social care workers. This provides much needed reassurance for thousands of dedicated professionals who make vital contributions to the sustainability of care services across the country. These individuals play an essential role in enabling people to live independently, safely and with dignity, and many have become valued members of the communities they serve.
While this announcement is a positive step, important questions remain about how the new requirements will be implemented in practice. Providers and sponsored workers need urgent clarity on the proposed £25,000 earnings threshold, the increase to B2 English language standards, arrangements for sponsorship transfers, and the timetable for introducing the new settlement criteria.
Social care and support services remain heavily reliant on both international and domestic recruitment, and while the commitment to maintaining a viable settlement pathway is welcome, it must be matched by sustained investment in growing the domestic workforce and continued support for displaced workers through locally delivered recruitment hubs.
SESCA looks forward to working constructively with Government to ensure these reforms are implemented fairly, provide certainty for workers and providers, and support the long term sustainability of care services for the 1 million people in our region who depend on them every day.”