Government decision to put social care workers on the Shortage Occupation List welcomed
Responding to the government announcement that social care workers will be added to the Shortage Occupation List, Danny Mortimer, chief executive of NHS Employers and deputy chief executive of the NHS Confederation, speaking on behalf of the Cavendish Coalition said:
"We very much welcome the government reacting quickly and positively to the urgent recommendation made by the Migration Advisory Committee to place care workers on the Shortage Occupation List. This is a significant recognition of the profound workforce challenges facing colleagues and services across social care, and the need to resume meaningful recruitment of staff from outside the UK.
"There will be some concern however that the salary threshold for this move is higher than the government’s own minimum wage requirements, given that the government has yet to deliver long-term investment in the social care workforce, including in rates of pay.
"The coalition looks forward to working with the government to enhance domestic strategies to improve recruitment into the vital and rewarding roles available in social care, but recognises the significant complementary support now being offered to allow recruitment of colleagues from outside the UK."
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