Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department plans to publish a social care workforce strategy, in the context of the White Paper entitled Restoring control over the immigration system, published on 12 May 2025.

There are currently no plans to publish a social care workforce strategy in response to the Immigration White Paper. However, we are actively supporting the workforce through a range of ongoing initiatives.

It is the Government’s policy to reduce reliance on international recruitment in adult social care and to improve domestic recruitment and retention. Overseas recruitment for adult social care is ending. The new rules will come into effect on 22 July 2025.

There will be a transition period until 2028, to be kept under review, where in-country applications, including from other visa routes, will continue to be permitted for care workers and senior care workers, provided individuals are already working in the sector. This means, for example, that care providers will continue to be able to access students and individuals on the graduate route, who we know have provided a vital role in workforce capacity in recent years.

The Department is providing up to £12.5 million this financial year to 15 regional partnerships to help support international care workers affected by license revocation into alternative, ethical employment. It also includes regional partnerships providing support with CV writing, interview techniques, employability skills support, support to better understand workplace culture in the United Kingdom, and signposting.

The Government recognises the scale of reforms needed to make the adult social care sector attractive, to support sustainable workforce growth, and improve the retention of the domestic workforce. This is why we are introducing the first ever Fair Pay Agreement to the adult social care sector so that care professionals are recognised and rewarded for the important work that they do.

We are also expanding the Care Workforce Pathway, the new national career structure, to make the adult social care sector more attractive to work in. In addition, care workers will be supported to safely take on further duties to deliver delegated healthcare activities, with the right training and clinical governance in place.

In September 2024, we launched the Adult Social Care Learning and Development Support Scheme, which allows employers to claim for funding for training courses and qualifications on behalf of eligible staff. The scheme is backed by up to £12 million this financial year.

In addition, the Department has launched an independent commission into adult social care as part of our critical first steps towards delivering a National Care Service. The commission forms a key part of the Government’s Plan for Change, recognising the importance of adult social care in its own right, as well as its role in supporting the National Health Service.

In conclusion, while the commission carries out its work, we are already laying the groundwork for more substantial, long-term changes that will create a more resilient and sustainable workforce.