At Altogether Care, we believe great care comes from the heart. Every day, we see the life-changing difference a kind, committed care worker can make – offering comfort, dignity, and practical support to those who need it most. But right now, the very workforce that delivers this essential care is under threat.

What’s Changing and Why It Matters

From 22 July 2025, major government changes to immigration rules will significantly restrict the route for overseas care workers to come to the UK. These include:

• End of Overseas Sponsorship for Care Roles – employers will no longer be able to sponsor new overseas recruits for Care Worker or Senior Care Worker roles (SOC codes 6135 & 6136) under the Skilled Worker or Health and Care visa routes. This effectively ends international recruitment for these roles from that date.
• Higher Salary Thresholds – Any remaining eligibility for sponsorship would require meeting the new general salary threshold of £41,700 – a figure well above standard care sector pay, and far beyond what most care providers can offer for frontline care roles.
• No Family Dependents Allowed – A policy already in effect, meaning that overseas care workers can no longer bring their partners or children with them to the UK. This makes relocation far less attractive and unviable for many skilled professionals.

These changes might feel distant or technical, but they will have a very real and detrimental impact on the lives of older and vulnerable people across the country. Why? Because our sector is already under strain, and overseas workers are a vital part of helping us meet growing care demands. In fact, the NHS and social care sector would have collapsed long ago without the support of overseas staff.

The Role of International Care Workers

Contrary to some misconceptions, overseas staff are not temporary or less invested. Many are highly skilled, deeply committed professionals who have chosen to build lives in our communities. They are our neighbours, our colleagues – and for many families, they are the reassuring presence caring for loved ones day in and day out.

At Altogether Care, we’ve worked hard to ensure our international staff not only meet the highest standards – but feel truly supported in their new roles and homes. That includes:

• Providing safe, accessible key worker accommodation
• Ensuring full compliance with rigorous checks, including enhanced DBS clearance, visa documentation, and sponsorship requirements
• Helping staff settle confidently into life in the UK by offering support to understand local culture, day-to-day living, and how things work – both in and outside the workplace

These are people who choose to care – who undergo intensive vetting, training and personal financial cost to come and contribute meaningfully to our communities.

International colleagues do more than fill the staffing gaps in our industry – they add cultural depth to the fabric of our teams. Their presence enriches local lives, reflects the diversity of the communities we serve, providing connection and understanding across cultures.

What About Growing Our Own Workforce?

It’s something we passionately believe in and already do. In fact:

• 100% of our Registered Managers were promoted from within
• We provide structured in-house training, including the Care Certificate and Levels 2–5 qualifications
• We work with local colleges to offer apprenticeships and adult social care diplomas

But even with all of this in place, we can’t fill every role through domestic recruitment alone. The scale of need is simply too great, and funding too limited.

A System Under Strain

Without access to overseas talent, care providers like us will struggle to meet current and rising demand. This puts pressure not only on our teams, but on unpaid family carers, hospitals, and the wider health system. It means delays in hospital discharges, longer waiting times for support, and increased risk to those who rely on timely, person-centred care.

This isn’t just a workforce issue. It’s a wellbeing issue, a health issue, a human issue.

What Needs to Happen Next

We believe in a future where care is respected, supported, and sustainably funded. But to get there, we need:

• A coordinated national workforce plan
• Reconsideration of immigration policies that acknowledge the true value of care professionals
• Greater investment in domestic training and international recruitment

Because the truth is, great care knows no borders. It is found in the quiet patience of someone helping a client get dressed. In the warm conversation shared over a cup of tea. In the reassurance families feel knowing their loved ones are in safe, capable hands – no matter where the carer originates from.

Standing Up for the People Behind the Care

Despite protests from us and other care providers across the country, the concerns of our sector have largely been ignored. Independent providers like Altogether Care simply cannot compete with NHS pay, pensions, and benefits – yet we are expected to meet the same complex care needs under increasing financial and regulatory pressure.

At Altogether Care, we see firsthand the dedication, compassion, and expertise our international and domestic staff bring to their roles every day. They are the heartbeat of our services – and they deserve to be recognised, respected, and supported.

Now more than ever, we must speak up for the people behind the care. We must push for policy that reflects the true value of this workforce, and for a care system that is fair, inclusive, and fit for the future.