Thousands of additional care workers will become eligible to apply for a 12-month Health and Care Worker visa, as the scheme is opened to social care workers, care assistants, home care workers, and support workers in nursing homes.
What is the Health and Care Worker visa?
The Health and Care Worker visa was introduced in August 2020. This was in response to the COVID-19 pandemic to address the severe shortages in the social care sector which were placing enormous stresses on the existing workforce.
This visa route allows medical professionals and their dependants to enter and work in the UK with the NHS, an NHS supplier, or in adult social care. Applicants are entitled to a 50% visa fee reduction, an exemption from the usually mandatory Immigration Health Surcharge, and an expedited decision on their application.
What has changed?
The Health and Care Worker visa route has expanded and additional roles, including social care workers and care assistants, have been added to the Shortage Occupation List, which stipulates a minimum annual salary of £20,480. This will allow carers to qualify for the Health and Care Worker visa and to benefit from the scheme.
These measures are expected to be instated early this year and will be in place for at least 12 months in order to provide a much-needed boost to the care sector, which continues to suffer from the pressures of the pandemic.
The UK government has invested significantly to provide continued support to the NHS in line with long-term plans to improve social care in the UK. The expansion of this route follows an investment of £465.2 million to support the recruitment and retention of social care workers, particularly during the winter period and the worsening of COVID-19 cases in the UK.
How Gherson can assist
Gherson has extensive experience with Health and Care Worker visas, as well as with all other sponsored routes, including Skilled Worker and Intra-Company Transfer Visas.
We are able to assist individuals who have secured sponsorship in the UK, as well as companies that seek to obtain Sponsor Licences in order to recruit and employ foreign workers. Please do not hesitate to contact us for advice, send us an e-mail, or alternatively, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn to stay-up-to-date.
The information in this blog is for general information purposes only and does not purport to be comprehensive or to provide legal advice. Whilst every effort is made to ensure the information and law is current as of the date of publication it should be stressed that, due to the passage of time, this does not necessarily reflect the present legal position. Gherson accepts no responsibility for loss which may arise from accessing or reliance on information contained in this blog. For formal advice on the current law please do not hesitate to contact Gherson. Legal advice is only provided pursuant to a written agreement, identified as such, and signed by the client and by or on behalf of Gherson.
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