Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 20
20
Acknowledged
Government announces closure of care worker visas, ending overseas recruitment for social care.
Conclusion
In the Immigration White Paper, which was published shortly after our evidence session, the government announced that it would end overseas recruitment for social care, closing care worker visas to new applications 40 C&AG’s Report, para 3.19 41 Qq 40, 51 42 Q 62; C&AG’s Report, para 15 43 Q 61; IMM0005 44 Committee of Public Accounts, Reforming adult social care in England, Twenty-Second Report of Session 2023–24, HC 427, 20 March 2024 45 Qq 10, 63, 71 46 Qq 9, 64 47 Q 10 15 from abroad. The Paper references the need to move the United Kingdom away from a dependence on overseas workers to fulfil care needs and reflects concerns over the abuse and exploitation of workers.48 48 Home Office, Restoring Control over the Immigration System, May 2025, paras 79-81 16 3 Dealing with the risks of exploitation and non-compliance Tackling the exploitation of migrant workers
Government Response Summary
The government agrees with the committee's conclusion regarding the planned end of overseas recruitment for social care, stating it will write separately on the matter and reiterating that DHSC monitors care workforce trends.
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
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.