Latest Care News |
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July 2007 |
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National Care Association (NCA)
extremely concerned at the latest developments in the
recruitment of staff from non EU countries |
National Care Association has received a number of worried
phone calls from members in the last few weeks. Each of the
calls has related to the refusal of an extension to a work
permit from a member of staff from a non EU country.
Additionally NCA’s Chief Executive has undertaken local
radio interviews on the same subject.
It would appear that the Home Office has changed the
criteria for work permits for non EU nationals and failed to
inform the sector.
NCA Board member Mandy Thorn who represents NCA on the Work
Permits UK panel for health and social care said today:
“This is an extremely serious developing situation. The Home
Office has failed to realise the impact that this decision
would have on the sector.
The staff in question in these incidents have NVQ level 3 in
Care or the equivalent but the shortage in staff applies at
all levels of the social care sector.
There is a major shortfall in the pool of staff available
for recruitment to social care in many parts of the United
Kingdom. The Home Office needs to understand that care
providers need staff with all levels of care qualification
and these carers are not readily available from EU countries
with the level of expertise in English required. It is
extremely important in social care that there is good
communication between carer and service user and this is not
always possible when staff are being employed within the
European Union.
This is a very worrying time for care providers, when they
know that if an extension to a work permit is refused it may
be impossible to recruit someone with the same expertise and
qualifications.”
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