Care Workers: Foreign Worker Visas

Lord Turnberg Excerpts

Wednesday 18th June 2025 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Merron (Lab)]

Well, I will raise them with whoever the noble Baroness likes.

The other point that comes to mind is that we will also be discussing with our colleagues over the border how they can boost the domestic workforce, because it is so important that we do, and that we reduce reliance on international recruitment.

[Lord Turnberg (Lab)]

My Lords, my noble friend may have hinted at this already, but one of the ways in which we might encourage retention and attraction to the job of being a care worker is to ensure that they have a nationally registered professional qualification. Is that going to be the case?

[Baroness Merron (Lab)]

There are a number of ways that we are promoting opportunities to develop skills and knowledge, which will improve morale but also the attractiveness of working in adult social care. To that point, I am particularly pleased that apprenticeships are available for young people, so that they may see the benefits of working in the social care service.

The three main areas are an expanded care workforce pathway; the launch of the adult social care learning and development support scheme in September, which will allow funding for eligible care staff to complete courses and qualifications; and the new level 2 adult social care certificate scheme, which has been backed up by some £12 million this financial year. In all of this, we are seeking to professionalise and recruit—as well as retain—valued social care staff.