Migrant social care workers impacted by the UK Government's
changes to immigration policy are to be offered targeted support
in Scotland.
In the year ending June 2025, the number of Health and Care
Worker visas issued to migrant workers in Caring Personal Service
Occupations fell by 88%, following restrictions introduced by the
UK Government to the visa route.
The subsequent decision by the UK Home Office in July to close
the Social Care Visa Route altogether will have a further impact
on the social care sector.
According to a Scottish Care survey, more than a quarter of the
social care workforce in Scotland is made up by international
workers – with many sector leaders citing concerns with workforce
shortages and recruitment.
The Scottish Government is continuing to call on the Home Office
to reverse its decision to close the route and is investing
£500,000 to fund a tailored offer to help ‘displaced'
international social care workers who have found themselves
without sponsored employment elsewhere in the UK at no fault of
their own.
The funding will be used to help support international social
care workers meet the costs associated with moving to and working
in Scotland's social care sector.
Health Secretary said:
“The UK Government's hostile and restrictive migration policies
are damaging Scotland's health and social care sector.
“In Scotland we need a migration system that works for our NHS,
our social care sector, our businesses and third sector. Until we
have the full powers over migration that will come with
independence, we will do all we can within the devolved powers of
the Scottish Parliament to mitigate the UK Government's harmful
approach to migration.
“I am therefore pleased to confirm today that the Scottish
Government will create a bespoke offering to help social care
workers who have been displaced to come to Scotland and
contribute to our care sector.
“We will provide £500,000 to mitigate the devastating impact of
the UK Government's closure of the care worker visa route and
provide targeted support to help displaced social care workers.
“This will support international social care workers already in
the UK who have lost their social care jobs as a result of their
employer losing their visa sponsor licence, to come to Scotland
and contribute their valuable skills to our social care sector.
"It is our intention for this work to begin immediately so that
social care workers can settle into new jobs before Christmas.”
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