The British Association of Social Workers (BASW) is lobbying the Home Office over the impact of upcoming migration reforms on practitioners working in the UK on skilled worker visas.
Under the plans, published for consultation last month, the standard period for a worker from overseas to qualify for indefinite leave to remain in the UK would double from five to ten years, with this period increased or reduced dependent on a range of factors.
These include your level of English, salary, the qualification level required for your role or whether you've claimed benefits, done community work or worked in a specified public service occupation for at least five years.
Shorter settlement period for some staff
The latter group would get a reduction in their settlement period of five years.
They would need to be working in "skilled occupations" - those requiring a degree-level qualification or higher - a group that includes social workers. However, the consultation paper does not further specify who would be covered by the reduction.
It suggests that it would include, particularly, staff whose earnings are based on national pay scales, such as medical and teaching professionals in the public sector. No national pay scale exists for social workers, with specific scales applying for those working for Cafcass and the NHS, and councils largely free to set pay levels in line with terms set by national agreements.
BASW raises issue with home secretary
In a letter to home secretary Shabana Mahmood, BASW's interim chief executive, Sam Baron asked if social workers would be covered by the five-year reduction, arguing that they should, on the grounds that social work was a "skilled front-facing public service occupation".
"Many social workers come to the UK on visas to work, and a change to their routes to settlement may have a large impact on the workforce," she warned.
Separately, Labour MP Cat Smith, who formerly worked for BASW, posed a written parliamentary question to Home Office ministers about whether social workers would be covered by the five-year reduction policy.
However, the response, from minister for migration and citizenship Mike Tapp, did not contain any further details beyond those provided in the consultation paper.
Lower qualifying period for higher paid practitioners
The government's proposals also include a five-year reduction in qualifying time for workers who have earned at least £50,270 for the three years immediately prior to their application for indefinite leave to remain in the UK.
This would apply to some higher paid social workers, senior or advanced practitioners and team managers.
Outside of social work, the Home Office's plans would triple, from five to 15 years, the standard qualifying time for care workers to settle in the UK, prompting warnings from provider and union leaders that workforce shortages in the sector would increase.
