Burnham weighs care worker visa exemptions as social care review accelerates

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham is considering exempting existing care workers from stricter immigration rules regarding indefinite leave to remain (ILR), a move designed to alleviate pressure on the social care sector. The proposal aims to protect hundreds of thousands of migrant workers already in the country while potentially applying new restrictions to future entrants. This policy consideration coincides with Burnham’s plan to accelerate Louise Casey’s review into the social care system, which was originally scheduled to conclude in 2028.

Burnham is set to deliver a speech next week announcing the acceleration of Casey’s review, citing his personal experience with his father’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis. The prime minister has previously attempted to reform the social care system during his tenure as health secretary more than 15 years ago, an effort that did not succeed. He has described the current system as broken, stating that Westminster has historically flinched from making necessary decisions regarding the treatment of staff and patients.

The government is also exploring short-term funding fixes, including increased allocations to the £9bn Better Care Fund, to support the sector ahead of the next general election. One option under consideration involves using the ringfenced fund to offer patients free short-term care upon discharge from hospital, aiming to prevent readmission to acute care. Burnham has indicated that funding options, including potential new levies, should be considered as part of Casey’s broader review.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood’s plans to double the time it takes migrant workers to qualify for settled status are facing opposition from unions and providers. Andrea Egan, general secretary of Unison, argued that vulnerable people will not receive adequate help unless ministers focus on recruitment and retention rather than pushing migrant care workers out of the UK. The Home Office has granted approximately 200,000 health and care worker visas in the last five years, with many more dependants arriving alongside primary visa holders.

While the specific exemption for existing care workers may not be included in next week’s speech, it could be announced later in the year following a public consultation. Louise Casey is set to launch this consultation in the next two weeks, seeking input on eligibility for social care, family responsibilities, and individual payment contributions. Casey has described the UK as facing a moment of reckoning regarding resources for frail elderly and disabled adults, and Burnham hopes for the final report to be published by the end of the year, though experts view this timeline as ambitious.