West Midlands Social Care International Recruitment Hub

Support and resources available

Information regarding the Changes to Immigration Rules for Adult Social Care Workforce published 1 July 2025

Summary of key changes for Adult Social Care:

• Recruitment from abroad via the Health and Care Worker visa route ended on 22 July 2025
• For a transition period until 22 July 2028:
  • Care workers who are legally sponsored and working in the UK will continue to be eligible to:
    • Extend their visas
    • Change sponsors
    • Apply for settlement (subject to the rules in place at that time)
  • Individuals already in the UK may still switch within the Health and Care visa route, they must currently hold a Health and Care visa and have most recently been sponsored under:
    • SOC 6145 (or 6135 since April 2024) - Care workers and home carers, or
    • SOC 6146 (or 6136 since April 2024) - Senior care workers
  • Individuals already in the UK on another visa route (e.g. student or graduate visa) will be able to switch into the Health and Care visa route, provided they have been legally employed by the care provider sponsor in a relevant role for at least three months at the time of application (e.g. a student working part-time in care)

Recruitment & Immigration Support - care providers are encouraged to continue to engage with the UK displaced worker pool. In the West Midlands, this process is managed through the regional pool operated by Lifted and there is a regional support offer with three support options:

1. Lifted Find

• Free to West Midlands care providers
• Direct access to 4,566 pre-screened carers in the West Midlands (31,666 nationwide), all checked to determine who has car ownership and UK driving licences
• Lifted provide everything needed to engage with displaced workers, from candidate screening to interview coordination
• Provider remains responsible for Home Office fees (Certificate of Sponsorship and Immigration Skills Charge)

2. Lifted Comply Light

• £99 per month per person hired + VAT (while employed) for a maximum of three years 
• Lifted handles everything from compliance documents and Certification of Sponsorship to housing and worker support and pay all up-front sponsorship fees for three years

3. Lifted Comply

• £249 per month + VAT
• Compliance support for up to 10 sponsored staff, including one CoS application attempt (request can be for up to 20 CoS) and practical assistance with sponsor compliance processes
• Special offer: First 2 months is funded free for the first 200 care providers (12-month commitment)

Lifted dedicated email for care providers and recruitment leads: support@lifted-talent.com

• Ethical Recruitment – essential resources, tools and guidance to support providers in making informed, ethical decisions about international recruitment
• FREE Specialist HR, Legal Services and Support - run by legal firm Lester Aldridge, until the end of March 2026
• Resources & Guidance – a range of national and regional resources
• Webinars & Legal FAQs
• Support for International Care Workers 

• tinymcefixWest Midlands International Recruitment Hub
• tinymcefixLifted