For care home leaders, managing these pressures requires forward-thinking planning
Georgina Richards, director of payroll at Sona explains why immigration, employment law, cost management, and staff wellbeing are interconnected challenges
The social care sector has moved beyond simple staffing shortages. Today’s challenges combine workforce availability, regulatory complexity and rising employment costs, all while caring for residents with increasingly complex needs.
For care home leaders, managing these pressures requires forward-thinking planning, not just reactive hiring. Workforce planning is no longer a back-office task, it has become a strategic priority for boards and management teams alike.
The Health and Care Worker visa, introduced in 2022, provided a temporary lifeline by enabling providers to recruit internationally. Many care homes relied on this route to fill shifts that had become increasingly difficult to cover and to reduce pressure on permanent staff.
However, tighter immigration regulations and a shrinking international workforce mean that providers can no longer depend solely on overseas recruitment. Understanding and complying with evolving immigration rules has become essential to maintaining continuity of care, avoiding legal risks and ensuring a steady flow of qualified staff.
At the same time, domestic recruitment is more competitive than ever. Care homes are contending with a limited talent pool, rising wages in other sectors and changing...
A video shows immigrants setting fire to the Basilica of St Michael in Bordeaux, France. False. The video shows a tent on fire beside the church. AAP FACTCHECK - A video showing smoke rising near ...