Cheltenham carers share concerns about new immigration rules

Jeya is waiting for visas to come through for her family

People in the care sector have shared their concerns new immigration rules would put workers off coming to the UK.

Care workers from overseas can currently bring their family with them, but plans to reduce migration would stop this.

Home Secretary James Cleverly has rejected concerns the care sector would be affected by the rules tightening.

The manager of a Cheltenham care home said most facilities in the area would "struggle" with the changes.

Wentworth Court Nursing Home regularly employ workers from overseas.

Jeya has been working there for seven months and is excited for her children to join her in England.

She said: "I love to care for those in need.

"I said to the children 'by the time snow is here, you guys will be here' - they want to be here with me."

'You're not complete'

But Jeya is worried about what the tighter rules will mean.

"If you're working with your family here you are more committed to this country. You're not feeling complete without your family," she said.

The Home Office said 102,000 visas were offered to care workers in the year ending September 2023.

An estimated 120,000 visas were also granted to family members of care workers.

"[If the rules change] I think most homes, certainly in this area, would struggle," general manager of Wentworth Court Gez Ossai said.

"Sometimes we have residents of a different ethnic background. If they're being looked after by people who understand their culture, it's a win win," he added.

Gez Ossai thinks it is important to employ staff from different backgrounds

Some people who have come into the country on family visas have also ended up working in the care sector.

Sonia worked as a surgical nurse in Pakistan for eight years but needs to take exams to practice in the UK.

She came to England under a family visa as her husband now works as a nurse in the UK.

Reflecting on the thought of her family splitting up, she said: "If my family was not with me, I would find it very hard, I can't survive."

Sonia hopes to get her UK qualifications soon

Somerset Council has had to dip into its reserves because of the rising costs of care.

"We're already seeing the costs of care significantly increase," Council Leader Bill Revans said.

"Adding this to the equation would put Somerset care into perilous situations and almost foreshorten life as a result," he added.

The Home Office said the UK would still have an "extremely competitive" offering for prospective care workers.

It said it was investing at least £500m over the next three years to support the social care workforce.

A spokesperson added: "The action we have taken means that there is more capacity in the sector this year than last."