The UK government is examining proposals to exempt existing care workers from stricter immigration policies being developed by the Home Office, according to discussions involving Prime Minister Andy Burnham. The potential exemptions would address concerns that new settlement requirements could disproportionately impact the social care workforce, which has become increasingly reliant on migrant workers.
Burnham plans to deliver a speech next week outlining his commitment to establishing a National Care Service before the next general election. He will also announce an acceleration of a comprehensive sector review originally scheduled to conclude in 2028. The prime minister is expected to draw on personal experience, citing his father’s diagnosis with Alzheimer’s as motivation for prioritizing care system reform.
Home Office officials under Shabana Mahmood have proposed extending the timeline for migrant workers to obtain settled status, a change that has prompted significant concern among care providers and unions. The proposal to double the qualifying period could reshape workforce composition in the sector. Mahmood has indicated willingness to consider sector-specific exemptions, though carving out health and care workers would substantially reduce the population affected by the new rules. Over the past five years, approximately 200,000 health and care worker visas have been granted, with additional family members entering through dependent visa pathways.
Burnham is reportedly considering exempting currently employed care workers from the changes while allowing stricter rules to apply to future hires. Separate from immigration policy, officials are exploring near-term measures to ease sector strain, including potential increases to the £9bn Better Care Fund, which supports social care coordination with the National Health Service. These measures could include subsidizing short-term care for patients following hospital discharge to prevent readmission.
Longer-term reform will be informed by a review examining fundamental questions about care system structure, including eligibility criteria, family responsibilities, and individual financial contributions. The review’s public consultation is scheduled to begin within two weeks.
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