PAs and Care workers in UK under the new immigration system – letter for signatories
Many disabled people have for as long as 30 years used PAs and Care Workers from the EU and EEA countries as well as from countries further afield. This has increased their choice and control over the care they receive and for many has been invaluable.
One of the many negative outcomes of taking back control of our borders after Brexit is the loss of freedom of movement for EU and EEA workers especially for anyone from those countries who weren’t working in the UK prior to December 31st 2020 and who aren’t able to apply therefore for pre-settled or Frontier Worker status.
At the moment the new style immigration policy appears to offer no option at all for care workers from other parts of the world to come and work here. The government has failed to consider the needs of individual disabled people whose social care and support for independent living is funded through Direct Payments or Continuing Health Care funding. It wouldn’t matter if non-UK PAs and Care Workers were classed as skilled workers or whether social care was made a shortage occupation as these routes cannot be used by an individual.
We are asking disabled people, their family, friends, DDPOs and our supporters to sign up to support the letter below asking that Care Workers and PAs can continue to apply to work in the UK with something similar to Frontier Workers status which basically would allow them to come here to work while primarily living in their home nations.
We will collect signatures to our letter until February 14th and then plan to send it to members of the Migration Advisory Committee which advises the government on shortage occupations plus ministers, MPs and Lords.
To sign up to the letter please email us at mail@dpac.uk.net
We would like to keep your details so that we can contact you further about supporting changes to the current guidelines as we’re sure we will need to exert further pressure on the government to get the changes needed.
Letter
As disabled people who use care workers and personal assistants (PAs) from both the UK and many other parts of the globe including from EU countries, we are concerned that we appear to no longer have the opportunity to employ new staff from outside of the UK.
As care work is a sector experiencing drastic shortages of staff we are urging you to allow something similar to the Frontier Worker scheme to include new employed and self-employed care workers both from EU and EEA countries and extending this to care workers from outside of the EU.
As service users, their family. Friends, and supporters we know from many years of personal experience that it is vital to have every path open to enable the recruitment and retention of staff with the key values, behaviours, personality, client synergy and skill set to deliver high quality, safe, and value-for-money services. As recipients of social care, we know that it is not possible for just anyone to become a satisfactory care worker/PA.
Figures show there is already a dramatic shortage of skilled care workers and PAs in the UK, and these changes will exacerbate the overwhelming pressures our care system already faces. The provision of quality care is important to the mental and physical wellbeing of a vast swathe of the UK’s disabled and older people – who are often denied rights and opportunities many take for granted.
The majority of this industry workforce do not wish to relocate to reside in the UK permanently and come here to work for a fixed period of time and then return home. They contribute to the GDP through taxation and purchasing goods and services. Loss of such workers will exacerbate the overwhelming pressures our care system already faces.
Many of these workers perform skilled tasks similar to Nursing and Health Care Assistants who are able to continue working in the UK.
ONS figures estimate there are 112,000 unfilled vacancies at any one time in the Adult Social Care sector – a rate of 8% – compared to an overall vacancy rate of 2.7% across the UK economy as a whole.
In 2019-2020, 143,000 care workers and PAs left the industry, and the retention rate is worryingly low, particularly during the first year of working.
27 per cent of Adult Social Care Workers are aged over 55 and will need to be replaced in the future as they age or become unable to continue with physically demanding work.
Skills for Care estimates that 56 percent of the adult social care workforce are non-UK workers coming to the UK from abroad to work. PA Pool, an organisation set up to help disabled and older people recruit PAs, has an almost 50 per cent split between UK and non-UK staff. This means they could lose up to half of their potential workforce due to the current changes. Independent Living Alternatives, another PA agency, say that for traditional live-in staff 60 per cent of their workers are from the EU and only 28 per cent from the UK.
While it appears any EU and EEA staff working in the UK by December 31st, 2020 have the option to apply for pre-settled status, or for Frontier Worker status if they do not wish to later apply to settle here until June 30th 2021, there is at present no option for these schemes to be extended to new staff who weren’t working in the UK by December 31st 2020 which we feel it is vital to have. Due to all the factors outlined above, we feel this is essential to prevent a social care ticking time bomb, which will result in a devastating shortage of skilled, qualified care workers, increasing pressure on our already crumbling social care system and putting disabled people’s lives at risk as well as increasing both pressure and avoidable expense on our NHS.
Limiting the employment opportunities in social care poses a grave danger that many disabled people who have spent over 12 months shielding will end up losing their freedom, independence and quality of life which has been the sole factor keeping them going through the past months. Ensuring disabled people have the right to continue employing the skilled care workers they rely on must be a priority.
In conclusion we are urging you to implement a scheme similar to the Frontier Worker scheme to include new self-employed staff from inside the EU and EEA areas as well as from outside of the EU.
Signatories to date:
Mary-Ellen Archer – Service user and DPAC Member
Susan Brumpton – Carer
Doreen Archer – Family member with disabled daughter
Bob Ellard – Carer and DPAC steering group member
Sue Elsegood, PA user
Linda Burnip, parent of service user, DPAC co-founder and UNISON member
Miriam Binder, service user and DPAC steering group member
Paula Peters, DPAC steering group member and UNITE community
Jenny Hurst, PA employer
Ian Burnip, service user
Rick Burgess, disabled person
Emma Sulivan, unpaid family carer
Jamie Preece, disabled person who needs care.
Rona Topaz, disabled person
John Kelly, PA employer
Sedley Bryden, disabled person
Jenny Herd, parent of service user
Fleur Parry, PA user
Xylince Hogan
Anne Pridmore, PA user
Carl Sutton
Sian Thomas, PA user
Lise Marron, PA user
Dr Naomi Lawson-Jacobs, PA user
Catherine Gallimore, PA user
Susan Barman, care user
Carlos del Carpio Palomino
Marilyn Heath, parent of service user
Anne Novis, MBE, PA user
Kevin Hodge
Rachel Lewis, PA user
Jenny Morris, disabled researcher
Marion Fallon, disabled person
Colin Carpenter
Tina Hogg, disabled person and co-founder of DPAC
Laura Burnip, family member of service user
Iona Cerasella Chis, doctoral researcher, University of Birmingham
Nicki Myers, PA user and chair of Cambridge DPAC
Mandy Lawrence, disabled person.
Colin Keatley, DPA disabled person
Adam Tattersall, disabled person
Jill B.Derbyshire, disabled person
Alison Tupling, disabled person
Mary Woodall, disabled person
Ingrid Glass, disabled person
Dr. Adam Whybray, University of Suffolk
Shelley Harrington, disabled person
Vince Laws, disabled person
Sam Tatlow, disabled person
Eleanor Lisney, PA user and Sisters of Frida
Paul Hegarty, disabled person
Paula Jacobs, PA user
Anna Farish, disabled person
John Harrison, disabled person
Martin Hughes, DPAC supporter
Richard Amm, disabled person
Karla Hunter, disabled person
Jeffrey Harvey, disabled person
Michael Jackson, disabled person
Martine Levaudel, PA user
John Roche, disabled person
Gerard Coleman, disabled person
Christine Stringer, disabled person
Peter Gregory, disabled person
Marcus Woolf, disabled person
Catherine O’Brien, disabled person
Julie Rice, disabled person
Nick Lewis, PA user
Belinda Panks, disabled person and
Geoff Jelly, previous PA user until changes in charging policy.
Joe Whittaker, disabled person
Duncan McGibbon, disabled person
Steven Devote, Brighton DPAC
Adria Efthimiou-Mordant MSc, disabled person
Catherine V. Hale, disabled person
Charlie Foulkes MSc, disabled person
Nadia Clarke, PA user
Marc Cherrie, PA user
Michael Ward, disabled person
Gianpietro Valors, supporter
Carol Sykes, PA user
Rachel Loe, support worker
P.Turpin, Southampton DPAC
Zainabb Hull, disabled person
Sam Brown,
Rahel Geffen, disabled person
Ian Jones, disabled person
- Tsoncheva
Lynne Selleck
Andrew Day, disabled person and Norfolk DPAC
Dorian Gordon, PA user
Nina Grant, access activist
Trev Burnip, parent of service user
Nicola Field, disabled person and DPAC member
Susan Archibald, Disability Rights Activist, Scotland
Liz Silver, disabled person and DPAC member
Ellen Clifford, disabled person and DPAC steering group member
Beverley Boradhead, disabled person
Christopher Gill, disabled person and DPAC member
Matt Stuart, LLB (Hons.), service user
Dr Glyn Robbins, Homes 4 All
Keith Vanables, disabled person and DPAC member
David Webb, disabled person and DPAC member
Stephen Greenwood, family carer
Joanne Bailey, family member
Helen Maddock, disabled person and DPAC member
Katherine Gault, disabled person and DPAC member
Peter Wobster, family carer
Moira Steel, care user
Nikki Pegram, disabled person and DPAC member
Aime Bosc Nikolov, supporter
Dr. Debbie Humphrey, Kingston University
Marion Spacagna, disabled person
Matt Hoxley, disabled person
Chris Sterry, disabled person
Aziz Zeria, disabled person
Hazel Bourden, partner of PA user
Chris Llewelyn, disabled person
Emily Morton, disabled person in an individual capacity
Phillipa Willitts, disabled person previously using a PA
Tom Somerfield, disabled person and Benefits Advisor Harrow Association of Disabled People
Tony Tripp, disabled person
Caroline Smith, PA user
Richard Cowper, disabled carer, Unite Community
Moira J. Gomes, disabled person
Zena Dodgson, disabled person
Jan Turner, disabled person
Dave Cutler, PA user
Leanne Purvis, disabled person
William Phillips, disabled person and former chair of Harrow Association of Disabled People.
Jake Green, disabled person and Disability Sheffield
Georgina Gittins, parent of disabled person
Caroline Waugh, disabled person
Mike Llewelyn Cox, service user and Norfolk DPAC
Natasha Wood, supporter
Katy Etherington, PA Pool
Nathan Lee Davis, PA user
Michelle Maher, disabled person
Natalya Dell, disabled person
Lina Bri, Supporter
Janine Booth, disabled person
Tim Matthias, son of care user
Martin House, disabled person
Carol Cassidy, PA user
Richard Sean Leahy, disabled person
Jacqueline Robinson, disabled person
Clare N. Ayton-Edwards, disabled person
Marion Nisbet, disabled person, Glasgow DPAC
Ian Kerr, disabled person, Glasgow DPAC
Carol Laidlaw, disabled person
Tamsin Mole, disabled person
Katy Board, PA user
Brex Board, family carer
Filipe Alves, partner of family carer
Jo Wollnough, PA user
Frances Leckie, editor Independent Living and supporter
Dr Jay Watts, supporter
Annie Howard, family carer
John Howard, disabled person
Roxanne Homayoun, PA user
Rosemary Homayoun, parent of PA user
Janet Mayes, parent of service user
Dr.Alexander Richards, Clinical Pyschologist in Neurology
Alan Wheatley, supporter
Catherine Christian, disabled person
Richard Downes, disabled person
Angela Drane, service user
Caroline Waugh, Disability Sheffield
Louise Pascoe, disabled person
Jonathan Bell, service user
Sam Brown, disabled person
Shelley Harrington, disabled person
Chris Veale, disabled person
Debbie Epstein, disabled person
Robert Punton, PA user
Louise Holden, disabled person
Elane Heffernan, UCU disabled members’ rep
Ms E. Russ, PA user
Rebecca Elliott, disabled person
Kevin Deegan, disabled person
Sarifa Patel, disabled person
Sally Wallis, disabled person
Sally Morawetz, disabled person and daughter of previous service user
Doug Holton, Disability Officer Hackney North CLP
Daniel Holt, PA user and Chair of the Association of Disabled Lawyers
Kevin Caulfield, PA employer
Joe Kaliszczak, Family member of care user
Sharon Bunce, disabled person
Lisa Rowe, PA user
Alex Srdarevic-Lewis, disabled person
Sarah Ismail, disabled person and editor of Same Difference
Laurence Foenander, PA user
Katie Hoad-Hitchins, uses family care at present
Nick Evans, supporter
Hannah Roques, disabled person
Alex Doodle, PA user
Bill Smith, chair Rugby Disability Forum
Susan Harrison, care user
Rosemary O’Neill, family member of care user
FlickHarris, chair of Manchester Disabled People’s Access Group
Stephen Leggett, supporter
Theresa Rooney, parent of disabled person
Dr. Rachel H. Tribe, Clinical Psychologist
Anne Lineham, disabled person
Orla Ratcliffe,
Lorna Johnson, disabled person
Kiran Marwaha, disabled person and Member Psychologists for Social Change
Catherine Keen, Occupational Therapist
Merry Cross, disabled person
Andrew Busby, disabled person
Vanessa Allen, support sector worker for Guideposts
Dave Eldridge, Regional Advisor, Foundations
Lydia Giannetti, Occupational Therapist
Rupert Earl, P user
Ruth Turner, service user
David Chruchley, disabled person
Heather Peacock, supporter
Angela Lyttle, family carer
Chris Wallace, disabled person
Clive Poulton, disabled person
Vin West, parent of PA user
Martin Tolley, disabled person
Mark Harrison, disabled person
Sandy Marks, PA user
Barbara Hulme, disabled person
Phil Evans, disabled person
Organisations
Tracey Lazard, CEO Inclusion London
Suffolk DPAC
DPAC Norfolk
Debbi King, Disability Politics UK
Adam Gabsi, chair Harrow Association of Disabled People
Emily Morton, CE Disability Sheffield
Sarah Woolley, BFAWU
Ian Hodson, BFAWU
WOW Campaign
Reasonable Access
Inclusion Scotland
European Network for Independent Living
North Staffordshire and East Cheshire DPAC
DPAC Bristol
Carer Watch
Bromley TUC
TSSA South East Metro branch
Hammersmith and Fulham Coalition Against Cuts
Berkshire DPAC
Arfon Access Group
Happy to sign as Director of Ekklesia. Will email.
I can’t find where to sign
it says email us at mail@dpac.uk.net but I have tried to email you too
Happy to support this letter. I have emailed to do so from my personal email.
Kind regards,
Cllr Avril Coelho,
Liberal Democrats Disability Association Chair.
I’m happy to sign and I’ll distribute widely. But that’s only the start. Never has there been more need to fight
Doug Holton Disabilty Officer Hackney North CLP
Both my daughter’s current excellent PAs are from EU countries. They will have settled status, but I am concerned that in future it will be even more difficult to recruit new PAs if we can no longer employ people from the EU or beyond. It is already very difficult to find people with the necessary skills and personal qualities for this demanding role who are willing to work for the low rates of pay which local authority social care budgets will fund. Refusal to recognise that care work is a shortage occupation can only make matters worse.
If this Government does not act immediately to save Social Care then there could, soon, be little or no Social Care to speak of.
Care workers from outside the UK are just one aspect for there are many more and this Government, as was the case with previous Governments, is doing nothing except vague promises. But these promises are never kept, so action on many fronts is required.
I am going to sign the letter and would ask you to consider signing the petition, Solve the crisis in Social Care,
https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/solve-the-crisis-in-social-care
Hi, As some one who has wirked as a support worker with people with LD and Autism for the last 30 years I completely agree with this letter. We need dedicated skilled care workers and the industry is already on the verge of collapse due to chronic underfunding and cuts. Many of my colleagues are from all over the world and it is a privledge to work along side them and we woukd be lost without them. Solidarity comrades
Thank you
I hope I have done this correctly and my name is now added to the letter
Government should look at this point. Because some unknown carers are dangerous to our love one . We want our love one to live their normal life without Fear of who or whom look after them. We want our love one to have harmonious of good people who to trust in build communication
with. The better their are it the further they will go. more Great opportunities, in having choice, happy with lot of opportunities . One thing government should know is that passionate
Is our love one arm and leg.