14 March 2025
Changes relating to care workers in the Skilled Worker route
The Government values the important contribution care workers from overseas make to social care services. However, too many providers have recruited care workers to the UK and failed to provide them with the work they were promised, or have subjected them to appalling exploitation. We have a duty to protect people against destitution, exploitation and modern slavery, and the best way to do so is through secure, properly paid work and employment conditions.
We are therefore making changes to address the growing pool of care workers and senior care workers in this route who no longer have sponsorship, because their sponsors have been unable to offer sufficient work and/or have lost their sponsor licences.
The changes require providers to try to recruit from this pool of workers who are seeking new employment, before seeking to sponsor new recruits from other immigration routes or from overseas.
The changes do not apply to workers outside England, or where providers are seeking to sponsor someone switching from another immigration route who has already been working for them for at least three months. We will keep the geographic coverage of this requirement under close review.
Changes to the minimum salary for Skilled Worker visas
A routine change is being made to update the minimum salary floor from £23,200 per year (or £11.90 per hour) to £25,000 per year (or £12.82 per hour). It is standard practice to update this and other salary requirements across work visa routes each year, using the latest Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). This ensures these salary requirements continue to reflect the latest pay situation for UK workers. As the Government intends to shortly publish an Immigration White Paper, the changes are being limited to only updating the minimum salary floor. This is to ensure it reflects the latest ASHE data and remains significantly above the National Living Wage, which is also increasing in April 2025.
Share
12 June 2025
10:00am - 4:00pm
IHSCM Upcoming Events & Membership The IHSCM have the following events coming up which we have been asked to promote to our WMCA members. If you are not already a member with IHSCM, you can sign up for free membership here . You will need your individual IHSCM membership number in order to register for a free ticket for any of the training events listed below. The IHSCM have produced 2 short videos that may aid in generating interest in IHSCM membership and the sign up process. • You can watch a short video demonstration of the sign up process here • You can watch a video on some of the benefits of IHSCM membership here *******************************************************************
Citation: Staff Support during the Summer
Research engagement and delivery within a changing social care landscape
Citation: Keep up to date with changes to HR and Health & Safety
International Recruitment: Research and Updates King's College is carrying out an independent evaluation of the support provided through the IR Fund and the researchers are keen to speak to care providers and international care workers. Reflecting on International Recruitment: Share Your Experience King’s College London has been commissioned by the Department of Health and Social Care to conduct an independent national evaluation of the support provided through the International Recruitment Fund 2024–25. This is your opportunity to share your experience. Care Providers The researchers are keen to hear from care providers who have recent experience of international recruitment including direct recruitment from overseas or international workers already in the UK. They are particularly interested in hearing from employers who have sponsored displaced international workers (have had visas revoked). International Care Workers Researchers at King’s College London also want to hear from international care workers who came to the UK but had to find a new employer since arriving in the UK because their original employer had their sponsorship licence revoked. The researchers want to understand the experience of international care workers. This will include: A confidential chat online or by phone (30–45 minutes) International care workers will receive a £20 gift voucher as a thank-you Everything shared is private – individual names and employers will not be identified If you have any questions or you’d like to take part in this research or know and international care worker who might, please contact: Carl Purcell, Policy Research Unit on Health and Social Care Workforce, King’s College London – carl.purcell@kcl.ac.uk
Carbon monoxide poisoning – what do care providers need to know? The Care Association Alliance have asked us to share this important information with our members. ************************************************************************** The best way to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning is the proper installation and maintenance of gas equipment – and carbon monoxide alarms are a useful backup. The recommended approach for care settings is twofold: 1. Care homes must ensure that gas appliances are installed and maintained by a Gas Safe Registered engineer or business. 2. Carbon monoxide alarms are a useful precaution, but they are not a substitute for point 1 above. It’s important that people who use care services and care providers are safe from the risk of harm from carbon monoxide gas. The proper installation and regular maintenance of gas appliances, carried out by a competent person, is the best way to ensure CO safety. Care providers should refer to the Health and Safety Executive’s Safety in the installation and use of gas systems and appliances code of practice, which specifically notes the use of CO alarms as a useful back-up precaution if you have gas appliances in use at your service. Another useful resource is the HSE’S Health and safety in care homes guidance . The Care Quality Commission (CQC) and the HSE have launched a gas safety promotion for care settings: • May 2025 – the CQC set out the recommended approach in its bulletin. • June 2025 – the HSE has included this item on its cross-government group on CO awareness and gas safety.
Find out about EDI & Culturally Appropriate Care
10 June 2025
