New Immigration Rules and 2025/26 International Recruitment Fund: Key Updates for Adult Social Care Providers and Local Authorities
From 9 April 2025, new immigration rules came into effect requiring employers to consider recruiting displaced international care workers already in the UK before recruiting from overseas. This change aims to ensure ethical recruitment practices and better support for workers impacted by sponsor non-compliance.
In addition, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has published new guidance for the 2025/26 International Recruitment Regional Fund, which includes up to £12.5 million to support migrant care workers and tackle unethical employment practices in the adult social care sector.
Key Aims of the 2025/26 Fund:
Regional partnerships will focus on:
- Supporting workers affected by non-compliant sponsors or unethical practicesinto new, ethical, sponsored employment.
- Engaging with care providers to encourage recruitment of displaced migrant care workers.
- Preventing and responding to exploitative employment issueswithin the sector.
The full DHSC guidance is available here:
International recruitment regional fund for the adult social care sector 2025 to 2026 – GOV.UK
In line with these changes, the West Midlands International Recruitment Programme Team, alongside Local Authority International Recruitment Leads, has been working to shape a regional response.
What You Need to Know:
- The new immigration rulesare now in force: employers must consider displaced international care workers first when recruiting from overseas.
- The Department of Health and Social Care will share detailed implementation guidance soon.
- In the meantime, you can access some of their guidance here:
West Midlands Approach to Managing Regional Pool:
In the West Midlands, this process will be managed through the regional pool operated by Lifted, using a variation of Lifted’s standard model.
You can find out more information about this by visiting www.lifted-talent.com/west-midlands
