Leading Liberal Democrat Councillors responsible for adult social care have today written to the Home Secretary urging the Government to protect overseas care workers who are already living and working in the UK.
The intervention comes amid reports of disagreement within Government over plans that could force thousands of care workers to leave the country despite years of service in the NHS and social care by retrospectively changing the rules of workers rights to stay in the country.
The leaders say they support calls for a more pragmatic approach and warn that losing experienced carers would deepen an already critical workforce crisis affecting vulnerable older and disabled people across England.
The open letter follows repeated warnings from councils that the social care sector cannot recruit enough staff domestically while demand for care continues to rise.
Cllr Dr Wendy Taylor, Local Government Association Liberal Democrat Group Spokesperson on Social Care said:
"These are not numbers on a spreadsheet. They are the people helping older residents get out of bed, supporting people with profound disabilities to live independently and keeping enormous pressure off our NHS.
"The social care workforce is already stretched to breaking point. Removing experienced staff before there is a viable replacement would be damaging for care providers, councils, the NHS and, most importantly, the people who depend on care every day."
Councillor Tim Bearder, Leader of Oxfordshire County Council and former Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, said:
"Nobody disputes the need for a long-term workforce plan that trains and recruits more people here in Britain. Liberal Democrats have argued for that for years.
"But it makes absolutely no sense to force out thousands of dedicated carers who are already here, already paying tax, already supporting some of the most vulnerable people in our communities and who have become valued members of those communities.
The leaders are calling on the Home Secretary to provide certainty for overseas care workers currently employed in regulated care settings and commit to not changing the goalposts retrospectively while working with local government and the care sector to develop a sustainable long-term workforce strategy.
Alongside the letter, Councillor Bearder has released a short video highlighting the contribution overseas care workers make to communities across the country.
Open Letter to the Home Secretary
Dear Home Secretary,
As Liberal Democrat council leaders with responsibility for adult social care, we are writing to urge you to provide certainty for overseas care workers who are already living and working in the United Kingdom and rule out retrospectively changing the goalposts for workers rights to acquire Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR).
We recognise the Government's desire to reduce long-term dependence on overseas recruitment and to build a stronger domestic workforce. That is an ambition we share.
However, these objectives should not come at the expense of the dedicated care workers who are already here, already supporting some of the most vulnerable members of our communities and already making a significant contribution to our economy and public services.
Across the country, councils continue to face unprecedented demand for adult social care. Providers struggle daily to recruit and retain sufficient staff. The consequences of workforce shortages are felt not simply in social care, but throughout the NHS, with delayed hospital discharges, increased waiting times and greater pressure on emergency services.
The overseas workers affected by these proposals did exactly what successive governments asked of them. They came legally to the United Kingdom to fill recognised workforce shortages. They have built lives here, contribute through taxation, support local economies and provide compassionate care to older people and adults with disabilities every day.
For many of us, this is also a moral issue. Communities welcomed these workers. Care providers invested heavily in recruiting and training them. Families have come to depend on them and their families are now important parts of our communities at school and in other parts of the economy. It would be both unfair and economically damaging to remove them while the workforce crisis remains unresolved.
Recent reports suggesting there are differing views within Government are encouraging. We welcome the more pragmatic voices recognising that existing care workers should not become collateral damage in wider immigration reforms.
We therefore ask the Government to:
- Rule out retrospective changes to the ILR process and provide a clear route for overseas care workers already legally employed in regulated social care to remain in the UK
- Avoid policy changes that would worsen workforce shortages before sustainable domestic alternatives are in place;
- Work alongside councils, providers and the care sector to develop a credible long-term workforce strategy that improves pay, status, training and career progression; and
- Recognise the enormous contribution overseas care workers have made to the wellbeing of our communities.
- Good immigration policy and good social care policy should reinforce one another, not work at cross purposes.
We stand ready to work constructively with Government to build a sustainable workforce for the future. That future, however, should include the dedicated professionals who have already answered Britain's call.
Yours sincerely,
Leading Liberal Democrat Councillors responsible for Adult Social Care and Health:
- Cllr Tim Bearder, Leader Oxfordshire County Council and former Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care
- Cllr Wendy Taylor, Local Government Association Liberal Democrat Group Spokesperson on Social Care and Health, and Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, Newcastle City Council
- Cllr Mike Bell, Leader of North Somerset Council and Liberal Democrat member of the LGA Social Care and Health Committee
- Cllr Ellen Nicholson, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, West Surrey Shadow Authority
- Cllr Hannah Land, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson on Health, Broxtowe Borough Council
- Cllr Dr Kate Usmar, Cabinet Member for Adult Support and Independence, Gloucestershire County Council
- Cllr Steve Robinson, Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care, Dorset Unitary Authority
- Cllr Alison Born, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, Bath and North East Somerset Council
- Cllr Rebekah Fletcher, Cabinet Member for Adults, Oxfordshire County Council
- Cllr Piers Allen, Lead Member for Adult Social Care and Health, London Borough of Richmond and Liberal Democrat Lead Member for Adult Social Care, London CouncilsCllr Jan Candy, Cabinet Member,
- Community Health, East Suffolk Council
- Cllr Sally Symington, Executive Member for Adult Social Care, Hertfordshire County Council
- Cllr Adam Bermange, Cabinet Member for Adult Care Services, Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead
- Cllr Diane Ellison, Portfolio Holder for Adult Care & Health, Ward Member for Oakham South, Rutland County Council
- Cllr Duncan Banks, Chair, Health, Housing & Adults Scrutiny Committee, Milton Keynes City Council
- Cllr Richard Underwood, Chair, Health and Social Care Scrutiny Review Group, Luton Borough Council
- Cllr Patricia Bell, Cabinet Member for Adult Care, Westmorland and Furness Council
- Cllr Helen Foster-Grime, Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Adult Social Care, Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council
- Cllr Jerry Roodhouse Deputy Leader Rugby Borough Council
- Cllr David Hare, Councillor for Hawkedon Ward, Executive member for Adult Services, Health and ellbeing
- Cllr David Buxton OBE, Shadow Cabinet Executive Member for Adult Social Care and Health, East Surrey Council
- Cllr Clare Cape, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, Public Health and Co-ordination with the NHS, Wiltshire Council
- Cllr Swithin Long, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group, Torbay Council