A closer re-read of govt's #immigration policy paper & its possible effect on #socialcare drawing on some international learning: 1/
Govt’s decision to “not implement a route for lower-skilled workers” means the UK will be on a poor footing to compete with other countries. 🇦🇺🇳🇿🇨🇦 have all used points-based systems for years, & all found that they need some kind of parallel route for much-needed care staff 2/
Govt is firm that “Employers will need to adjust”, but have pledged minimal help beyond an additional £1bn per year for social care. Employers can’t simply adjust to the sudden absence of key frontline staff without significant help to boost domestic recruitment 3/
🇳🇿The NZ govt are also reforming their immigration system, but instead of blocking off ‘low-skilled’ workers, they’re negotiating a sector agreement. More generous visa terms for care workers from abroad, in exchange for plans to boost domestic recruitment by NZ employers 4/
Crucially the NZ govt has provided funding to improve working conditions , making social care a more attractive proposition for domestic workers. NZ providers can now afford to pay staff for their travel time and travel costs, unlike UK providers 5/ decentworkgoodcare.com/wp-content/upl…
The UK govt state also they're still working on some kind of special “initiative” for “NHS workers” (is this the so-called ‘NHS Visa’?) but no special initiative for social care, despite the fact the health and social care workforces are interdependent 6/
Govt seem to assume technology and automation can help replace workers from abroad. But unlike agriculture, retail or other sectors, social care is a sector which revolves around human relationships – tech can’t substitute for this! 7/
Warnings that the new policy could lead to a black market in low paid workers vulnerable to exploitation, may seem far-fetched now, but the conditions in social care (unregulated, poor employment standards, low pay, patchy data) make it a possibility. theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/f… 8/
See Germany and Australia, which have seen the growth of cash in hand 'grey markets' in their social care systems 9/ nuffieldtrust.org.uk/research/what-…
More detail on Australia, NZ and Canada's migration routes for social care staff are set out here: 10/ nuffieldtrust.org.uk/news-item/a-pu…
*Austria
*note - social care is regulated, but not if eg. it's an arrangment between two private individuals, rather than through a provider registered with the CQC
