The British Association of Social Workers (BASW) has called on the Home Office to ensure overseas-qualified social workers remain on a five-year pathway to settlement, warning that proposed immigration changes risk worsening workforce shortages.
The Government is consulting on plans to extend the standard route to earned settlement from five to 10 years. While ministers have indicated some frontline public service roles may retain a five-year route, it is unclear whether social workers will be included.
BASW argues that extending the timeframe would deepen recruitment and retention challenges across children’s and adults’ services.
The association also raised concerns about proposals to shorten the graduate visa period from 24 to 18 months, which it says could deter internationally trained social workers who qualify in the UK.
BASW representatives said overseas professionals are integral to maintaining safe staffing levels and warned that reduced certainty over immigration status could undermine long-term workforce stability in social care.
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