Senior care workers added to Shortage Occupation List

Care England has given a cautious welcome to the new roles added to the Shortage Occupation List.

The Home Office has announced that pharmacists, laboratory technicians, senior care workers and nursing assistants will be added to the Shortage Occupation List.

As part of the points-based immigration system, people applying to come to the UK through the skilled worker route must reach 70 ‘points’ to be eligible for a work visa.

A job on the Shortage List is worth 20 points, the other mandatory criteria – having an acceptable standard of English, an offer from a licensed sponsor and the required skill level – are worth 50 points.

Care England said it will continue its work to push for all social care workers, not just senior social care workers, to be added to the Shortage Occupation List and reassert its calls for a social care workforce plan.

Professor Martin Green, chief executive of Care England, said: ‘I am pleased that the government has acknowledged the challenges of recruiting social care managers, this is something we have long called for.

‘We hope that this is the start of a process towards the creation of a migration system which supports rather than undermines the development of the adult social care workforce.

‘Our staff are our best resource and we will do all we can to protect, recognise and champion them.’

Minister for future borders and immigration, Kevin Foster, said the system ensures that businesses and public services across the UK can get access to the best and brightest talent from across the world.

‘Every year we welcome healthcare workers from across the world to our United Kingdom, with many having played a key role on the frontline of the NHS during the recent pandemic.

‘This latest set of changes, combined with our Health and Care Visa, will ensure they can easily get the immigration status they deserve.’

The government also unveiled plans to launch another new immigration route that it says will help start-ups and fast-growing firms recruit the talent they need to innovate and grow.

As part of the route, highly skilled migrants with a job offer from a recognised high-growth firm will qualify for a visa without the need for sponsorship or third-party endorsement.

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