On March 12, 2025, the UK government announced new regulations to enhance the recruitment process for care workers in England. Effective from April 9, 2025, these rules mandate that care providers must first attempt to recruit international care workers already residing in England before seeking candidates from overseas. This measure aims to support those who have come to the UK to pursue a career in adult social care and to reduce reliance on overseas recruitment. Financial Times+3gov.uk+3gov.uk+3
This initiative is part of the government’s broader Plan for Change, which seeks to restore order to the immigration system by linking immigration, skills, and visa systems to grow domestic skills, end reliance on overseas labour, and boost economic growth. The government has been collaborating with the care sector to ensure high standards across the immigration system and to support care workers into alternative jobs when their sponsors have had their licences removed. gov.uk+1Financial Times+1
Additionally, the government is addressing potential abuses in the immigration system by implementing changes to the Short-Term Student route. These changes grant expanded powers for caseworkers to refuse visa applications suspected of being non-genuine, particularly for those studying English language courses in the UK for between 6 and 11 months. gov.uk
Seema Malhotra, Minister for Migration and Citizenship, emphasized the importance of protecting care workers from abuse and exploitation, stating that the new rules will ensure that international care workers already in the UK are prioritized for recruitment. Financial Times+4gov.uk+4reuters.com+4
Stephen Kinnock, Minister of State for Care, highlighted the value of international care workers to the social care workforce and the necessity of cracking down on rogue operators exploiting overseas workers. He noted that prioritizing care workers already in the UK will reduce reliance on international recruitment and ensure the social care sector has the professionals it needs. gov.uk+4gov.uk+4Financial Times+4
These changes build upon previous government actions to prevent exploitation and abuse within the care sector, including revoking over 470 sponsor licences between July 2022 and December 2024 to clamp down on such practices