Internet TV Report - Southern Cross Workers' Permits

As a result of a change of practice by the Borders and Immigration Agency, the work permits of overseas senior care workers who have worked in this country for under five years are not being renewed.

To see an internet TV report on this issue with Philip Scott, Chief Executive of Southern Cross Healthcare, click on the image on the left or the buttons below. Read on to find out about the background to this issue.

What’s going on with Senior Carer’s Work Permits?

1. What’s the background?

   For a non-European Union resident to work in the UK they need to apply for a work permit from the Border and Immigration Agency – part of the Home Office. In order to obtain a work permit the job they have applied for must meet certain criteria before a work permit is issued.

   Until recently the role of a Senior Care Assistant in a care home met these criteria.

1. What changed?

   The Border and Immigration Agency took the decision that the previously acceptable level of expertise and experience required for the role of a Senior Care Assistant now no longer meets the necessary criteria for issuing a Work Permit.

1. What does this mean?

   Under this guidance it effectively means that Care Homes will no longer be able to recruit Senior Carers from outside the EU.

1. What does it mean for Southern Cross?

   As with other care homes, this has a negative impact on Southern Cross Healthcare. We have employed suitably qualified non-EU workers as Senior Carers in a number of our homes. Of the 41,000 people we employ, 450 people fall into this category.

   Overseas workers, particularly senior carers with NVQ Level 3 or equivalent qualifications and good English language skills, are vital to the sector because of the lack of recruits from the UK and European Union. We have traditionally employed people from the likes of India, Singapore and the Philippines.

1. What does this mean for non-EU staff currently employed by Southern Cross?

   Prior to the new rules, people working in our care homes as senior carers could apply to have their work permits renewed if that is what they wished to do. Now individuals with work permits of less than 5 years will not be able to renew their work permits due to the criteria changes. They will need to leave the country.

   People working in our homes as Senior Carers with work permits totalling 5 years or more will be able to stay in the UK as long as they apply for Indefinite Stay Status. Before they apply they must have sat and passed a Knowledge of Life in the UK test.

1. Will this have any impact on the Service Users in our homes?

   Of course. Our Senior Carers play a vital role in the continuity of care for our service users. Many of them have been working in one particular home for several years and have formed strong and lasting bonds with the people they look after, their relatives and the local community. If they are forced to leave the country then the service user is bound to feel the loss deeply. Each home will of course ensure that each and every service user continues to receive the highest quality of care and new relationships will develop over time but the loss will be felt.

1. Did the Home Office consult on this change before implementation?

   No. There was no consultation involved. The Work Permits Healthcare Sector Advisory Panel, a consultative body of health and social care employer and employee groups which the likes of The English Community Care Association, the National Care Association and Registered Nursing Homes Association sit on, was not informed of the change of practice.

   Since the change was introduced these bodies, like ourselves, have highlighted our concerns.

   On August 13 2007 the Border and Immigration Agency issued updated guidance notes after feedback from the Department of Health and key stakeholders.

1. Does this new guidance make a significant change?

   No, not really. The Agency still believes that Senior Care Positions that meet the work permit skills criteria are extremely rare. Individuals can apply for a first or renewal of a work permit but this must be accompanied with a “robust” business case.

   In addition, and this is the key aspect for companies like ourselves, such a role must now pay a minimum of £7.02 per hour. This would be a significant pay increase and this enforced pay increase would need to be paid to all Senior Care Staff not just those from non–EU countries. This clause has effectively priced non-EU workers out of the market.

1. What is the view of Southern Cross on this subject?

   Philip Scott, Chief Executive of Southern Cross, said “I don’t think the Home Office really appreciate the impact this change will have on our staff and the people they look after.

   From a company perspective, the additional caveat of the increased salary effectively prevents us from recruiting outside Europe. This wouldn’t be a problem if we could recruit for this role from within the UK or indeed the EU. However it is a sad reflection of the times that people from these countries simply no longer want to fulfil these roles”

To find out more, go to:

www.bia.homeoffice.gov.uk