Staff Recruitment and Immigration by Julie Hopkins

Not only is the home care market being unable to take on additional care contracts at times, but care home providers are having to find their own solutions to the carer shortage.

In a previous article, it was mentioned that a focus on clarity of job roles and career progression could assist with staff recruitment and retention.  Having a system to encourage each carer attaining their career goals will go along way, boosting morale, a positive culture and feeling rewarded and appreciated all help to establish a fantastic and stable team. 

So how are care provisions coping with the staffing challenge?  Increasing agency is one route, having community ambassadors with access to the education environment is another, in addition to seeking senior carers from overseas and ensuring a focussed career plan is in place.  This is in addition to a growing trend of some providers considering becoming National Living Wage employers.

Despite the pandemic and the now ‘living with’ situation, care homes with an experienced management team and well led culture are seeing a return to more normal levels of occupancy.  Some provisions are turning towards obtaining their sponsor licence under the UK’s Points Based Immigration System (PBS), if not already in existence, and seeking staffing of senior carers from overseas.

Being sponsor ready requires a business to ensure that their current structures and processes are in place, and external support can assist in this regard, including training the in-house team for all immigration compliance measures and keeping up to date with regulation and audit processes.

For further information visit Ownacarehome.com for expert assistance on the processes of immigration.