Overview
From 9 April 2025, the UK government is introducing a new set of sponsorship rules for care providers recruiting international care workers. This change significantly impacts how recruitment should be conducted across the adult social care sector in England.
Under the revised rules, care providers must first attempt to recruit displaced care workers already in the UK before issuing sponsorship certificates to overseas applicants. This policy shift is part of the government’s broader Plan for Change, which prioritises ethical recruitment and the protection of foreign workers.
Why the New Rules Are Being Introduced
In recent years, there has been a dramatic rise in the number of international workers joining the UK care sector. These workers play a critical role in supporting adult social care services. However, the surge in international recruitment has exposed cases of exploitation and unethical employment practices.
To address these concerns, the Home Office has revoked over 470 sponsor licences since July 2022, affecting more than 39,000 care workers, many of whom were unfairly left without employment through no fault of their own.
As a response, the new sponsorship rule aims to give priority to displaced international care workers already residing in the UK, helping them find new roles without leaving the country and reducing the risk of exploitation.
What Does This Mean for Employers?
From 9 April 2025, before a care provider can sponsor an international worker from overseas, they must:
- Attempt to recruit a displaced international care worker already in England
- Provide evidence of this attempt by following Home Office guidance
- Use regional support networks to match with UK-based care workers in need of sponsorship
This means your organisation will need to revise recruitment strategies and ensure all processes align with the new rules to maintain your sponsorship licence.
How to Recruit Displaced Care Workers: Step-by-Step Guide
To comply with the upcoming rules, care providers should follow these steps:
1. Use Regional Support Networks
The UK government has created regional contacts to help match care providers with available displaced care workers.
Contact Details by Region:
2. Follow Ethical Recruitment Guidelines
The government recommends that care providers use its best practice toolkit, developed in collaboration with Skills for Care, to:
- Ensure fair treatment of international staff
- Promote long-term job stability
- Comply with the Code of Practice for international recruitment
3. Document Your Efforts
Before applying for a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS), you must demonstrate that you:
- Reached out to regional contacts
- Actively sought displaced care workers for the vacancy
- Could not reasonably fill the position from within the UK
Failure to do so could delay visa approvals or even risk losing your sponsorship licence.
4. Leverage Expedited Visa Processing
Displaced care workers who are successfully matched with a new sponsor will benefit from faster visa processing, helping to reduce delays and fill workforce gaps quickly.
Impact on the Social Care Sector
This change will have wide-reaching consequences for recruitment strategies in adult social care:
- Employers must take a UK-first approach to recruitment
- Care workers already in the UK will be given priority access to new roles
- Overseas applicants will only be considered after local options are exhausted
- Sponsorship procedures will become more tightly regulated and scrutinised
These steps aim to strengthen protections for workers and improve recruitment ethics across the care sector.
Preparing for the April 2025 Deadline
As the deadline approaches, care providers are advised to:
- Review current sponsorship procedures
- Train HR and recruitment teams on the new requirements
- Engage with regional leads to understand local displaced care worker availability
- Update job descriptions and hiring templates to reflect compliance needs
Acting early ensures your organisation remains compliant and competitive in the changing recruitment landscape.
What Comes Next? Future Guidance and White Paper
The UK government is expected to publish an Immigration White Paper in the coming months. This paper will:
- Provide further clarification on the sponsorship changes
- Outline a long-term strategy for reducing reliance on international recruitment
- Introduce initiatives to build a stronger domestic social care workforce
Care providers should stay up to date with announcements and prepare to adapt as more information becomes available.
Final Thoughts
The new care worker sponsorship rules coming into effect in April 2025 mark a major shift in the UK’s approach to international recruitment. By focusing on displaced care workers already in the UK, the government aims to create a more ethical, efficient, and fair care workforce.
As an employer, understanding and preparing for these changes is essential. By collaborating with regional support hubs, following best practices, and aligning recruitment strategies with the new framework, you can continue to recruit talented and dedicated care staff—while meeting your legal obligations and upholding your ethical responsibilities.