Care Homes: Staffing

Lord Bellingham Excerpts

Wednesday 11th January 2023 Lords Chamber

[Lord Markham (Con)]

Before we went ahead with this, we spoke to many care providers to make sure that there was capacity within the system to do it. It was understood that the capacity is there. In fact, there is potential underused capacity of as much as 40,000. We are confident that the staffing is in place and that the care packages are there to really make a difference.

[Lord Bellingham (Con)]

My Lords, is the Minister aware that a lot of homes across Norfolk are complaining that they cannot sponsor more overseas members of staff? At a time when there are not enough locally trained and motivated staff, surely there should be more flexibility for those quality homes that want to sponsor more overseas members of staff.

[Lord Markham (Con)]

Yes, this is absolutely something that we talk to our Home Office colleagues about all the time. I believe that 15,000 people have already come through on this route in the last nine months or so; we are seeing a rate of about 1,500 a month. It is very important and something on which we are focused.