The Department of Health and Social Care and Home Office have said that care workers, care assistants and home care workers are to become eligible for Health and Care Visa for 12 month period.

Following temporary changes to the health and care visa to make social care workers, care assistants and home care workers eligible for a 12-month period, it will make it quicker, cheaper and easier for social care employers to recruit eligible workers to fill vital gaps.

The pandemic has highlighted a range of staff shortages within the social care sector, placing pressures on the existing workforce, despite the incredible and tireless efforts of social care staff. The boost follows the recommendation from the Migration Advisory Committee to make care workers and home carers eligible for the Health and Care visa and add the occupation to the Shortage Occupation List.

Inclusion on the Shortage Occupation List will stipulate an annual salary minimum of £20,480 for carers to qualify for the Health and Care visa.

The temporary measures are expected to come into effect early next year and will be in place for a minimum of 12 months, providing a much-needed staffing boost while the sector deals with the additional pressures of the pandemic, at which point they will be reviewed.

Health and Social Care Secretary Sajid Javid said: “It is vital we continue to do all we can to protect the social care sector during the pandemic and beyond. These measures, together with the series of support packages announced since September, will help us ensure short term sustainability and success for our long-term vision to build social care back better. I also urge all care staff yet to do so to come forward to Get Boosted Now to protect themselves and those they care for.”