International Recruitment

We’re pleased to share an educational video launched in July, produced by Justice and Care in partnership with the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA). The video aims to support international care workers in the UK and raise awareness of their rights following the closure of the Social Care Visa Route. With over 117,000 health and care visas granted between January and September 2023—a 133% increase from the previous year—there has been a concerning rise in exploitation, including illegal recruitment fees and debt-related pressures. Featuring real-life stories, the video offers practical guidance on visa sponsorship, life in the UK, and identifying labour abuse. We encourage you to share this resource widely across your networks and social media to help protect and empower care workers.

English: https://youtu.be/vbCnZuzo-2w

Hindi: https://youtu.be/Tz5g8UE_4NA

Malayalam: https://youtu.be/RnO9I0k0m8o

Tamil: https://youtu.be/KyYOb6PO3Ic

On 12^th May 2025, the Home Office published the Immigration White Paper: Restoring control over the immigration system white paper set out that overseas recruitment into adult social care will end. This change to the immigration rules has been laid in Parliament on 1^st July as part of a wider package of measures: Major immigration reforms delivered to restore order and control - GOV.UK. Subject to Parliamentary approval the new rules will come into effect on 22^nd July 2025.  

As outlined in the Immigration White Paper, for adult social care there will be a transition period until 2028, where in-country switching for those already in the UK will continue to be permitted. This switching will cover: 

• Health & Care visa holders whose most recent sponsorship was under SOC 6145 (6135 since April 2024) Care workers and home carers’ or 6146 (6136 since April 2024) ‘senior care workers’; and 

• individuals switching from other visa routes who have been legally working for the sponsor as a care worker or senior care worker for at least three months at the date of the application. This means that, for example, a student who is working in the social care sector part-time, could apply to continue working in the sector on a skilled worker visa during this transitional period. They must have been working in the sector for at least 3 months prior to their application.  Further details will be set out in the sponsor guidance.  

The rules set out that the transition period will end automatically on 22nd July 2028, but in line with the White Paper, the transition period will be kept under review.  

International workers sponsored to work legally in the sector by the end of the transition period will be able to extend their stay, change sponsors, and apply to settle, subject to settlement rules in place at the time. The Government will consult on changes to settlement rules later this year. 

East Midlands International Recruitment Hub’s Events and latest news. There you will find up-to-date information on the latest legislation around international recruitment within health and social care.

You will also find their Webinar and previous events library as well as a coming soon section.

News, Events & Webinars. East Midlands Care

East Midlands International Recruitment Hub are dedicated to offering assistance to both international recruits and care providers alike. Their website features guidance on relocating to and residing in the UK, insights on international recruitment, details about forthcoming events, valuable resources, essential contacts, and so much more.

https://www.eastmidscare.co.uk/

In February 2022, care workers became eligible for the Health and Care Worker Visa and were added to the Shortage Occupation List in response to workforce capacity challenges in the care sector. This is in addition to senior care workers who were made eligible in January 2021. This toolkit aims to help providers to decide whether to recruit from overseas and to do so in an ethical and responsible manner. You can use this toolkit to plan your approach to overseas recruitment activity for the first time, or to review the quality and efficiency of your existing practices and processes. This guidance is mainly focused on international recruitment of care workers and senior care workers. There are different requirements for other professions such as nurses and social care workers

Click Here To Download Toolkit

A Cultural Integration Toolkit designed to enable community-based staff to effectively support and manage new recruits who have been recruited internationally.

Culture toolkit activities

A guide for East Midlands care providers and licensed sponsors on their sponsorship obligations and what to look at when preparing for a UKVI sponsor compliance visit.

For information on compliance visits please download the recent Compliance Visits Presentation and Immigration Compliance Document