Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 17
17
Accepted
Home Office addressed identified compliance and sponsorship capacity issues in Health and Care Worker visas.
Conclusion
The Home Office acknowledged that it could have done more to understand the way the care sector is structured and assess the potential risks, given that it was extending a model designed for highly skilled workers to a different demographic.38 The Home Office said it quickly identified significant issues with Health and Care Worker visas, with some sponsors applying for volumes of visas that exceeded their capacity to employ workers.39 It increased its compliance activity in 2023 and refused 31 C&AG’s Report, para 8 32 Qq 6, 8 33 Home Office, Restoring Control over the Immigration System, May 2025 34 C&AG’s Report, para 6 35 C&AG’s Report, paras 1.9, 1.10 36 Qq 5, 9, 33 37 Q 9; C&AG’s Report, para 7 38 Qq 9, 11, 13, 35 39 Q 33; IMM0021 14 significantly more Health and Care Worker visa applications in 2023 and 2024, with the approval rate of 81% at the end of 2024, compared to over 99% in 2021.40 The Home Office also revoked the licences of 470 care providers over the period July 2022 to December 2024, out of 9,000 sponsors in the adult social care sector.41
Government Response Summary
The government agrees with the committee's implicit recommendation for greater understanding of the care sector, committing to write separately to the committee by October 2025 and July 2028. It also notes that DHSC already monitors trends in the size and demographics of the care workforce.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
3.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: October 2025 3.2 The government will write separately to the Committee on this point as requested. 3.3 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: July 2028 3.4 DHSC monitors trends in the size of the care workforce using a range of intelligence, including monthly tracking based on data collection from independent providers. 3.5 DHSC also uses annual estimates of demographics within the Adult Social Care workforce to monitor trends in the number of posts within the sector which are filled by British nationals, supplemented by additional intelligence.