Care providers should encourage staff and service users to apply to EU Settlement Scheme
24 July 2020
New guidance from Care Provider Alliance published today (24 July 2020)
Most EU citizens need to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) to ensure they are able to continue to live, work and access funding and services in the UK after 30 June 2021. EU citizens are important to care providers both as staff and clients.
While recent data indicates a high level of applications to the Scheme, the Care Provider Alliance (CPA) is calling on all social care organisations to ensure their staff and people who use their services are aware of the EUSS and how to apply.
The CPA, which represents the ten leading care provider trade associations in England, has today (24 July 2020) published guidance for adult social care providers on the EUSS.
Speaking about the launch for the guidance, CPA Chair, Lisa Lenton said:
“EU care workers, people who use services and families are a vital part of the care sector. We need them to feel secure and confident in remaining in the UK after the transition period ends on 31 December 2020.
“While care providers are not legally obliged to check if people have applied to the scheme, the CPA strongly recommends that they direct people to information on the EU Settlement Scheme, and encourage them to apply where appropriate. COVID-19 has resulted in some delays to applications, so again, it is better to apply as soon as possible. Our new guidance provides all the details needed, and we will be updating our information on a regular basis.”
The guidance is available on the CPA website at https://careprovideralliance.org.uk/euss-guidance-for-care-providers
The CPA recommends that care providers:
- review their business continuity plans to ensure it covers the EU Settlement Scheme and implications for their workforce and people who use their services.
- assess how many members of staff and people who use their service might be affected by the EU Settlement Scheme. They will need to understand if they’re likely to leave the UK before 30 June 2021 or if they might need extra support to apply to the scheme, and what actions care providers can take to manage the implications and reduce any risks.
- ensure relevant staff, people using services and their next-of-kin or advocates, are aware of the EU Settlement Scheme and how to apply.
- encourage and support staff and others to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme before 30 June 2021.
- provide information and reassurance to staff, those using services and their family or friends.
- ensure staff can direct people using services and carers to information about the EU Settlement Scheme, but ensure they don’t act as formal advisers on the issues or process.
- allocate staff time and resources to the issue. This will vary depending on the scale and type of the organisation. Staff with lead responsibility for workforce contingency planning and engagement with people who use services may be the most relevant leads on the EU Settlement Scheme.
CPA Press Office
Media contact: Care Provider Alliance, info@careprovideralliance.org.uk
Notes to editors
About the CPA
- The Care Provider Alliance (CPA) brings together the 10 main national associations which represent independent and voluntary adult social care providers in England. We work to represent the sector and ensure a coordinated response to the major issues that affect it.
- The Care Provider Alliance is an informal body with a rotating chair. Membership is of the representative associations with a national membership across the whole of England. However, some CPA members also represent services in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.
- Together our members provide care and support to 1.2 million people through residential, home-based and community services, whether commissioned by local authorities and the NHS or privately purchased. Together our members employ over 620,000 care workers.
- Our members’ services include residential and nursing care, homecare, supported living and extra care housing, shared lives schemes, advocacy and telephone helplines. They support children, adults of working age and older people.
- For more information on the Care Provider Alliance visit https://careprovideralliance.org.uk/about-us
EU social care workforce and EUSS data
EU workers make up approximately 8 per cent (115,000 jobs) of the adult social care workforce, including staff in local authorities and care providers. Skills for Care – Workforce nationality figures
As at November 2019, 14 per cent of adult social care jobs in London were filled by EU citizens, and 12 per cent in the South East.
The number of new workers from the EU was, however, increasing during the six years up to 2019, while the number of non-British and non-EU workers was decreasing. Skills for Care – Workforce nationality figures
As of June 2020, there have been 3.7 million applications to the EUSS, of which 3.4 million are from EU/EEA or Swiss nationals. EUSS applications – latest data on no of applications.