Earned Settlement: What It Could Mean for the Adult Social Care Workforce

The Government’s proposed Earned Settlement system could significantly change the route to permanent settlement in the UK, with important implications for both international workers and the care providers that employ them.

Under the proposals, the current approach would be replaced by a new model in which the standard qualifying period for settlement would increase to 10 years for most migrants, with the length of that journey potentially adjusted according to factors such as an individual’s contribution, integration, character and residence. The Government has also consulted on a potential 15-year starting point for Skilled Workers in roles below RQF Level 6.

For adult social care providers with significant numbers of internationally recruited workers, these reforms raise important questions. Which employees could be affected? Could existing workers already on a pathway to settlement be caught by the new system? What factors could shorten or extend an individual’s qualifying period? And what could the changes mean for workforce retention and long-term planning?

This webinar will break down the Earned Settlement proposals and explain what they could mean in practice for the adult social care sector. We will explore the proposed qualifying periods, the criteria workers may need to meet, potential transitional arrangements and the areas care providers should be watching as the Government develops the final framework.

Attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of the proposals, their potential impact on their workforce and the practical considerations organisations should be thinking about now.