Comment: Changes to visa rules

Rachael Wardell, Chair of the ADCS Workforce Development Policy Committee, said:

“It is no secret that local authorities up and down the country are facing growing challenges in recruiting and retaining staff in children’s and adult social care. For us these challenges are most pressing in social work and other shortage occupations and international staff make a valuable contribution to our communities and organisations. It is vitally important the government carefully considers the impact of any new policy and the knock-on effects this may have on the deliverability of new reforms, but most pressingly on the offer of vital support for some of the most vulnerable members of our communities, children. Our partners in the health service, in schools and right across the public sector are facing similar challenges; we urgently need a joined up discussion and plan in this space. In children’s services we work hard to keep families together wherever safely possible, therefore, it feels perverse that changes to the UK Health and Care visa could separate overseas workers and their families and this may discourage overseas workers from taking up roles in the sector.”

ENDS

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