Kate Skitakova
May 20, 2025

The Real Crisis in UK Care: Undervaluing Our Carers

The adult social care sector is at a crossroads. A recent immigration white paper labels care work “low-skilled,” tightening visa rules for migrant workers who fill 19% of roles. With 131,000 vacancies in England, this feels like a gut punch. At Access Skills, we train carers who show extraordinary compassion, resilience, and expertise—managing medications, navigating trauma, ensuring CQC compliance, and being emotional anchors for those at life’s end. Low-skilled? Hardly. The real crisis isn’t staffing shortages—it’s a failure to value the care sector’s heart and soul.

Let’s explore the challenges, honour our carers, and chart a path forward with training that transforms lives.

Care Managers - Stretched Beyond Limits

Care managers are the backbone of adult social care, but they’re running on empty. We hear from thousands in our network, like Tom, a manager who juggles endless tasks yet struggles to lead. The workforce crisis—131,000 vacant roles, an 8.1% vacancy rate—means managers fill gaps themselves, often working double shifts.

Burnout is rampant: 60% of carers feel overwhelmed, and managers face similar strain, inspection pressures, but understaffing makes it near impossible to meetup with CQC compliance demands. Pressing immigration policies leaving no room for proper support. As the care manager, the following has become the order of the day;

This isn’t just a staffing issue—it’s a respect crisis, where managers and carers are undervalued.

Migrant Workers Aren’t the Issue — They’re the Backbone of Care

Migrant workers are not the problem—they’re holding the care sector together. Skills for Care reports 19% of care workers in 2023/24 were non-UK nationals, with 70,000 joining that year. Without them, care homes and domiciliary services would collapse. We know of several migrant carers who bring joy to their residents, yet visa changes, barring dependants, cut international recruitment by 23% shutting the door to proper care services for residents. Calling care “low-skilled” ignores the expertise of carers who master person-centred care and CQC standards. This isn’t a skills shortage—it’s a failure to invest in retention and recruitment. Migrant carers deserve respect, not restrictions, for their vital work.

We Need Solutions - Not Soundbites

The care sector needs action, not empty promises. As a leading training provider, we feel the strain behind every care manager’s plea:

With the alarming vacancy rate in the care sector, talented care workers are vital, yet visa rules block skilled migrants, mislabelling them “low-skilled.” We’re frustrated by policies that ignore the reality of adult social care.

Training is the answer—our Care Certificates and Diplomas empower carers to thrive, boosting retention and tackling the workforce crisis.

The Future of Care Starts with the People Who Deliver It

At Access Skills, we believe the care workforce deserves more than just praise — it deserves real support. That’s why we’re tackling the respect crisis with training that makes a genuine difference. Our fully online courses, like the Level 3 in Dementia Care and Level 5 in Leadership, help care workers grow in confidence, step into leadership, and feel proud of the work they do every day.

With a projection of around 445,000 new care roles needed by 2035, we’re doing our bit to build a skilled, motivated workforce ready to meet that demand. Our CPD and e-learning tools don’t just boost qualifications — they help care teams stay compliant, reduce burnout, and feel valued in their roles. And we’re not stopping there. We continue to speak up for better funding, fair pay, and a future where care workers are recognised for the professionals they are. If you’re a carer or care manager feeling stretched thin, we see you. You’re not falling short — you’re holding everything together.

Let Access Skills stand with you. Explore training, share your story, and help shape a better future for adult social care.