Comment re: overseas care workers - 30th October 2023
The following comments can be attributed to Melanie Weatherley MBE, Chair of the Lincolnshire Care Association:
There are reports in the media today raising concerns that some care workers who come to the UK from overseas are under-qualified and at risk of exploitation.
As Chair of the Lincolnshire Care Association I would argue that the staff who have joined our care system from overseas are essential to the quality of care being provided to older people and adults with learning difficulties.
Many of these overseas recruits are thriving and bringing much needed skills and experience to our care sector.
Unfortunately there are some employers who are not delivering what they promised. We must work to eliminate this and make sure that all recruits have access to ethical employment with good training and development.
We should not make all overseas workers feel undervalued by implying that they do not have the technical and language abilities to do their job. Most of them are excellent when they have access to an appropriate induction. There may be some aspects of life in the UK that are unfamiliar to them, but these challenges are easily overcome.
