The Scottish Government has announced that up to 30,000 extra hours of adult social care work are expected to be secured every month through the Adult Social Care Displaced Workers Scheme.

The scheme is backed by £500,000 of funding from the Scottish Government and is designed to help employers recruit international workers who are already in the UK and find themselves without sponsored employment at no fault of their own.

It is expected that up to 250 workers will be employed once checks are complete this spring and visa rules mean each must earn at least £25,000 a year.

The Adult Social Care Displaced Worker Scheme covers additional costs which employers face when hiring a displaced worker already in the UK who has lost an employer’s sponsorship and where there are unfilled vacancies.

69 employers have already taken part in the scheme.

According to figures from the Home Office, the number of Health and Care Worker visas being granted for those in a Caring Personal Service Occupation has fallen by 88 per cent since the UK Government excluded dependants from applications in March 2024, and closed the Social Care Visa Route entirely in July last year.

Social Care Minister Tom Arthur said: “The UK Government’s hostile approach to migration and decision to close the adult social care visa route to new overseas applicants means this important sector faces serious recruitment challenges during a time of enormous need.  

“Our displaced workers scheme supports a sustainable social care service and workforce for Scotland. This mitigates the loss of international recruitment caused by changes to the UK immigration system and helps meet the care needs of our older population, by allowing providers to deliver thousands of extra hours of valuable support.

“It also indicates the type of society we are working to support – one with kindness and fairness to the most vulnerable at its heart.”