SCOTLAND’S social care sector faces a “triple whammy” of threats under Tory changes aimed at locking the border to migrants in Brexit Britain.
The chief executive of Scottish Care has issued a dire warning over UK immigration changes set to rock the provision of support for dementia patients, vulnerable adults and more.
The umbrella body represents more than 400 nursing homes, day services and home care providers who are reeling from Westminster’s decision to block visas for “low-skilled” workers after Brexit.
The points-based system is based on that used in Australia, but does not include its regional variations despite pressure from Scottish authorities over this country’s distinctive demographic needs.
READ MORE: Ex-MEP Christian Allard on post-Brexit rules: ‘I wouldn’t pass the test’
Home Office plans will end visas for workers in low paid work and occupations deemed to require little talent or training. Skilled workers will have to earn at least £25,600 to qualify unless they are in nursing, psychology, classical ballet dancing or other “shortage occupations”, where the threshold is set at £20,480.
But even that is far higher than the £17,500 average salary paid in Scotland’s care sector, which employs more than 110,000 people and is the fourth largest contributor to our economy. Between eight and 10 percent of the workforce in that sector comes from the European Economic Area.
Yesterday Donald Macaskill, chief executive of Scottish Care (above), told The National that some providers here are already struggling to maintain their workforces, and warned that the public must recognise the threat to continued provision.
Macaskill said: “We are faced with a triple whammy – we are closing the door on people coming to live and work and contribute to the economy, we are losing staff because of the toxic rhetoric around immigration coming from certain political voices south of the Border, and we are unable to build the social care economy and innovate in the way we have the potential to because of the economic impacts of these political decisions.
READ MORE: 'An insult to Scotland': Reaction to new Westminster immigration policy
“We have to encourage people to stay. We simply are a country that needs migrants. We need a distinctive solution.”
He went on: “Anything that’s done to the social care sector affects the wellbeing of the whole of society. It affects the whole of the Scottish economy. Every single organisation will work to make sure there is not an interruption to service.
“We will do what we can to maintain that quality of care and support.
“It would be naive to assume we can continue to survive much longer without attracting the brightest and best in the world of care to come and work with us in Scotland. This is something citizens need to be very aware of.
“We put people at the heart of what we do. It’s just a shame we don’t have politicians that do the same.”
Macaskill said it was “obscene” that caring would be seen as low-skilled.
He said: “Somebody who is able to be with someone as they are dying and give them assurance, somebody able to comfort an individual faced with the distress of dementia, is a skilled person. By Dickens, they have a contribution to make.”
The average annual salary across all sectors in Scotland is £24,440, and our ageing population is predicted to put additional pressures on the NHS while reducing the income tax base.
The Scottish Government – which aims to attract migrants – and trade bodies have long argued for an immigration system that will not reduce the labour supply and threaten services.
READ MORE: Tories reject Scotland-only visa idea without even reading it
Research suggests hospitality will be hard hit, while rural and remote communities are likely to suffer the highest consequences of the change.
Councillor Shona Morrison of Moray Council’s Health and Social Care Board (above) said her region is “already starting to see an impact”.
She said: “There should be no doubt that this creates significant risks for both the people who need social care services and for those who are tasked with providing that care.
“The Tories need to spell out how they will deal with this.”
Councillor Kelly Parry, spokesperson for community wellbeing at councils body Cosla, said: “Cosla and Scottish local government have been clear: a reduction of immigration to Scotland will adversely impact on our economy, our workforce and our ageing population.
“Less than 10% of those in social care occupations earn above £25,000. It is time the UK immigration system recognises high value jobs that are crucial to our communities over arbitrary skills and salary thresholds.”
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