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The UK’s social care sector faces yet another looming crisis—one that could significantly worsen the current workforce challenges. Over the past few years, thousands of overseas care workers have been recruited to fill vital roles in care homes across the country. While this international recruitment drive has provided a temporary lifeline, a new challenge is fast approaching: the 5-year cliff edge.
What Is the 5-Year Cliff Edge?
After five years of working in the UK, overseas care workers can apply for indefinite leave to remain (ILR). Once granted, they are no longer tied to their sponsoring employer or sector. This means they are free to seek higher-paying jobs in other industries, which could result in a mass exodus of experienced care workers from the sector. With many of these workers arriving between 2020 and 2022, the cliff edge is expected to hit from 2025 onwards.
According to recent data, over 57,000 overseas care workers were recruited between 2021 and 2022 alone. If even a fraction of these workers leave the sector upon gaining ILR, the impact on staffing levels could be devastating. Care homes, already struggling with workforce shortages, may find themselves in an even more precarious position.
Why Strategic Workforce Planning Matters
The key to mitigating this looming crisis lies in proactive, strategic workforce planning. Care homes cannot afford to wait until gaps appear to start searching for staff. Instead, they need to plan months—or even a year—in advance to ensure they have the right people in place when they need them.
Effective workforce planning involves:
Identifying future staffing needs: Understanding when current employees may leave and forecasting recruitment needs accordingly.
Building a pipeline of recruits: Ensuring a steady flow of candidates by engaging in international recruitment well in advance.
Avoiding reliance on costly agency staff: By planning ahead, care homes can reduce the need for last-minute, expensive temporary staffing solutions.
How RAP Affinity Can Help
At RAP Affinity, we specialise in helping care homes develop long-term workforce strategies. We work closely with our clients to map out their staffing requirements months in advance, ensuring that gaps are filled with skilled, well-trained recruits from overseas.
Our approach isn’t just about filling roles—it’s about creating a sustainable workforce that supports high-quality care. We assist care homes in planning for Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS) well ahead of time, minimising delays and ensuring that new staff arrive when they are needed.
By starting the planning process now in January, care homes can secure the staff they will need in November, ensuring they have the right team in place as they head into the busy end-of-year period. At RAP Affinity, we support care homes in being proactive by helping them map out workforce requirements well in advance, reducing reliance on costly last-minute solutions. Our goal is to help care homes plan ahead, so staffing gaps are identified and filled months before they become critical.
The Art of Workforce Planning
While strategic workforce planning may not be an exact science, it is undoubtedly an art—one that requires foresight, flexibility, and collaboration. At RAP Affinity, we understand the complexities involved in planning for future staffing needs, and while we may not always get it perfect, our proactive approach helps care homes stay ahead of potential challenges.
By working together, we can help the sector navigate the impending cliff edge and ensure that care homes are well-prepared for the future. With a combination of strategic planning, timely recruitment, and ongoing support, we aim to reduce reliance on costly agency staff and build a stable, committed workforce.
Don’t Wait—Start Planning Now
The impending 5-year cliff edge is a wake-up call for the UK’s social care sector. Without proactive measures, care homes risk losing a significant portion of their workforce to other industries offering higher pay. The time to act is now.
Contact RAP Affinity today to learn how we can help you develop a robust workforce strategy, ensuring that your care home has the right staff in place when you need them. Let’s work together to build a sustainable future for social care—one that supports both workers and residents alike.
Email Craig at craig@rapaffinity.com and let’s make 2025 your year for recruitment success.
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