Commenting on government's plans to introduce a points-based immigration scheme, Deborah Alsina MBE, chief executive, said:
"This announcement spells bad news for the social care sector. It's disappointing that warnings have not been heeded about the need for an immigration route for social care workers.
"The Government says employers ‘must adapt’, but the stark reality is that care providers will struggle to fill vacancies without being able to increase pay. They are constrained on pay because of the low rates councils are currently paying providers in their stretched financial environment.
"All eyes will now be on the Budget to see how the Government plans to invest in social care, so it can handle ongoing workforce pressures. More importantly, we need a significant injection of cash and renewed commitment to reform for social care for the long term."
19 February 2020