Net migration figures renew calls for targeted social care workforce support

CARE England, the largest and most diverse representative body for independent providers of adult social care in England, has called on Government to give greater attention to boosting employment across the adult social care sector, in light of the Migration Statistics published by the Home Office.

Professor Martin Green OBE, Chief Executive of Care England, says:- "The statistics published today by the Home Office show us that net migration increased to 606,000 in the year ending March 2023. Despite increases in net migration, the adult social care sector continues to grapple with 165,000 vacancies, in addition to the 130,000 in the NHS. It is clear from this that the Government's immigration policy is failing to address workforce challenges across our vital public services. The adult social care sector has long been characterised by years of chronic underfunding and the lack of a long term workforce plan aimed at addressing recruitment, retention, pay and conditions. With 1 in ten posts remaining vacant, the Government's priority should be raising the bar for all workers and empowering providers to recruit the staff they need, regardless of origin. International recruits have always made an invaluable contribution to our sector and are crucial to its sustainability going forward."

The Immigration System Statistics Report has revealed that in the year ending March 2023, there were 299,891 grants to main applicants on work visas, largely due to increases in the:- 'Skilled Worker' visas. Further:- 'Skilled Worker - Health and Care' visa grants to main applicants have risen 171%, in part due to the expansion for:- 'Care Workers and Home Carers' and 'Senior Care Workers.' Despite this, Care England and Hft's Sector Pulse Check 2022 report, published in March 2023, found care providers reporting an average vacancy rate of 21% in 2022, suggesting a worsening of workforce pressures.

Martin Green continues:- "With more than 1 in 3 care staff leaving their role each year, the current workforce situation is wholly unsustainable. Whilst increases in net migration may help to fill vacancies within the sector, ultimately, the workforce crisis will never be truly addressed until the Government provides the sector with the funding it needs to adequately reward the workforce with the pay and recognition they deserve. Care England has long called for a care wage that sits above the NLW and supports the Trade Union Congress' call to implement a £15 minimum wage for individuals in care worker roles, fully funded by central Government and ringfenced for this purpose. This would not only improve the workforce crisis in adult social care, but give the English economy a much needed multi-billion pound boost."

NACRO says:- "We must be more ambitious for getting those leaving prison into work"

THE National Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders (NACRO) responds to the release of statistics that shows the amount of people in work after leaving has increased at both the 6 week and 6 month markers. On hearing this news, on the 23 May 2023, NACRO, who the Criminal Record Support Service, which advises businesses and employers on how to hire people with criminal records and the disclosure system, along with helping those with criminal records on the disclosure system, work, and their criminal record, says we haven't gone far enough, adding:- "We must be more ambitious."

Helen Berresford, Director of External Engagement, said:- "While today's statistics show a welcome increase in the number of prison leavers in work, 7 in 10 people are still unemployed 6 months after their release. We must be more ambitious for getting those leaving prison into work. Employment is proven to reduce reoffending because it gives people purpose, routine, and the best chance at a second chance. To increase the amount of people in work after prison, we must also turn our attention to work in prison. By increasing work opportunities in prison, increasing the time spent in work, and increasing opportunities to give people day release from prison to attend work, we can increase the amount of people leaving prison ready to get into work. This will help reducing reoffending, which costs our economy around £18bn a year."

According to NACRO, these statistics show that:-

• 6 weeks post custody, 19.4% of prison leavers were in work between:- April 2022 and March 2023.
   

• It also shows that the proportion of people released from prison in work has risen by 9.6% across a 2 year period, from 2021.

6 months postcustody:-

• 30.4% of prison leavers were in work between:- April 2022 and March 2023.
   

• It also shows that the proportion of people released from prison in work has risen by 16.3% points across a 2 year period, from 2021.

NACRO goes on to explain why is work important, saying:- "When someone is in work, it reduces their risk of re-offending by around 10%. It also gives them a routine, purpose and a stake in the community. Being in work is a vital part of the person resettlement and rehabilitation journey and it is 1 of the factors giving people the best chance at a 2nd chance. We have long campaigned for better access to work for people both in and leaving prison. When a prison leaver is in work, it reduces the chance of them re-offending by around 10%. When someone has work upon leaving prison, it gives them a meaningful stake in the community, it also opens up options for housing and gives them a positive foundation on which to build a new life. Re-offending costs around £18bn a year, and work is 1 vital way we can help reduce that bill. In the Government's Prisons White Paper promised a series of measures to help get people in prison into work, including employment boards, increased use of release-on-temporary-license (ROTL) and improving vocational skills in prisons."

According to NACRO, what is currently happening to help improve work opportunities has been the fact that in 2022, the Government rolled out:- 'Employment Boards' across all 92 resettlement prisons in England and Wales. Employment boards link prisons to leading business figures who can offer their expertise on the skills, qualifications and training needed to help prisoners re-enter the workforce. Using these insights, prisons can tailor their training and workshops to match local labour market demands so people are job ready when they walk out the prison gate. Most employment boards will also offer key skill workshops including:- CV writing and interview techniques. Dedicated job experts will walk prisoners through job applications and give them interview training so they are ready to find jobs in booming sectors such as:- construction, haulage, and logistics.

You can find out more about National Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders online at:- NACRO.Org.UK.