Care coalition calls for urgent review of impact of immigration changes

Providers Unite has published an open letter calling on the Home Secretary to urgently review the impact of recent and proposed immigration changes on the UK’s social care workforce. 

And the response to the community care coalition’s demands led to more 30,800 providers, care workers, families, and members of the public signing the letter in the first 24 hours.  

The letter underscores the vital contribution international recruits make to social care, the workforce risks created by current policy instability, and the need for a clear, humane, and sustainable pathway that protects both workers and the people they support.

“We believe this is one of the strongest expressions of collective action the sector has seen in years, reflecting the urgency and depth of concern around workforce sustainability,” said a spokesman.

“As the Casey Commission begins cross-party discussions and the employment and immigration landscape continues to shift, Providers Unite will be amplifying these voices and ensuring policymakers hear the realities from the ground.”

We believe this is one of the strongest expressions of collective action the sector has seen in years, reflecting the urgency and depth of concern around workforce sustainability

In its letter, the group states that The 2025 Skills for Care report highlights 385,000 international workers are currently employed in social care, filling critical gaps in a sector with persistent staff shortages of nearly one in 10 roles.

And it says reliance on overseas recruitment has become ‘a last resort’, driven by the absence of a sustainable domestic workforce.

“Overseas recruitment in the social care sector has collapsed by 85% since 2024, following the Government’s immigration White Paper introduced earlier this year,” it adds.

“As a result, Provider Unite members are already unable to fill critical roles.

“Without urgent intervention, our sector could face up to 500,000 vacancies by the end of the transitional period in 2028, placing unprecedented strain on services and the communities we support.”

According to Providers Unite, social care adds £77bn to the UK economy annually and sustains 1.6 million jobs.

And every £1 invested in the sector generates up to £2.35 in wider economic benefit, reducing hospital demand and strengthening communities.

“Immigration reforms that disrupt the paid social care and support workforce will inevitably increase reliance on unpaid carers, driving deeper social inequalities and weakening the UK’s economic stability”, it says.

“If the policy proposal for overseas care workers is not reduced, even more people will be forced to give up their jobs to meet growing care needs.

“This will intensify pressures on households, employers, and the wider economy, compounding the challenges already faced across the sector.”

It makes three recommendations for improvement:

We respectfully urge the Home Office to: 

• Withdraw the proposed 15-year settlement requirement for health and vare visa holders, which risks driving half a million vacancies in social care
• Formally recognise the unique contribution of care and support workers by maintaining a shorter, fairer pathway to settlement
• Align immigration policy with the Government’s stated commitment to stabilising the social care sector

It concludes: “Providers Unite stands ready to engage constructively in the consultation process.

“We believe that a rebalanced approach will better serve both our sector and the nation.”