The changes being thrown on the Health and Social Care Sector just keep coming. The recent changes to the ability to Sponsor and recruit internationally are just one of many attempts at reforming the sector without business or the care users in mind.
As an industry, we need to shout back. High quality care is the aim, and without listening to those at the heart of care, we will not see actionable change.
Do you want to push back, but don’t know where to start?
How to push back on Government Changes:
1. Get involved in Care Associations and Local Authorities
Peer collaboration can be found through industry bodies, both National (like Care England) and local. National bodies gather responses across the nation, utilising their advocation contacts, such as MPs and other Government Officials, to be the voice for Care Providers.
Did you know: in 2022, Care Associations lobbied successfully for the original introduction of the Care Workers within the Skilled Worker visa route!
Being vocal and present in your regional care association allows for more local insights to be heard within collective voices. They amplify the perspective of individual care providers by utilising the grassroots data which can be collected at this level.
Local level collaboration allows for local level politics to be utilised! These groups provide access to local decision makers, making it easier to influence regional care, and in turn can provide advocacy at Parliamentary level. Similarly to local care associations, local councils can support the unified front of the care sector. They have data and experience to show how the visa restrictions are already undermining care service provisions. You can also encourage your local council to escalate concerns to the DHSC and regional government.
2. Engage in Evidence-Based Advocacy
Collect and present data on the challenges faced; data on workforce shortages or local recruitment failures.
Utilise case studies from your experience; show how visa restrictions affect real service users!
What data? You could start by tracking vacancy rates before and after the visa changes.
What do I do with the data? Present it to your local association, collaborate with your peers to gather a stronger data analysis to present to your local MP.
3. Provide tangible reasons why the changes will not work, (and suggest alternatives)
More than anyone, you, as a care provider, know how the changes will impact the industry.
For example, if the new salary benchmark is unworkable for day-to-day services, let them know how it will impact the quality of care.
Offer practical solutions: e.g., time-limited visa extensions, regional quotas, improved sponsorship processes, or pilot programs for regulated care staff.
4. Keep the pressure on your Local MP
Constantly, and consistently write to your local MP, along with others in your area. If a large group of Care Providers are consistently sharing the same message, they cannot hide that there is an issue. Ensure you include real world examples within their constituency as they are more likely to respond to on the ground stories that shows the situation being faced.
Tip: this can also be supported through your local care association, ask them how they are doing this, and how you can help?
5. Finally, and importantly, stay Organised and Consistent
- Coordinate your messaging across your platforms, eg socials, stakeholder updates and newsletters.
- Monitor the changes that the Government are proposing, and ensure your message tracks the changes proposed.
- Pushing back doesn’t mean being confrontational, it means being persistent, organised, and solutions-driven.
Together, we can make our voices heard.
