Care Workers Abused and Threatened

Kayley Hignell, interim director of policy at Citizens Advice, expressed the profound difficulty of addressing pressing issues within the organization, highlighting this particular issue as exceptionally heart-breaking due to their constrained capacity to offer assistance.

"Our investigation has uncovered a distressing reality where potentially thousands of individuals find themselves ensnared in a system that exposes them to abuse and coercion, rendering them voiceless and often enduring substantial financial losses," Hignell stated. "These individuals, integral to the functioning of our healthcare services, sometimes find themselves in situations where our best recourse is merely connecting them with a food bank."

Illustrative of the severity of the situation, one incident involved a migrant worker from South Africa who endured repeated sexual assault by her manager at a care facility but refrained from reporting him to the authorities out of fear of jeopardizing her employment and visa status. Another case involved a Caribbean care worker facing sexual harassment from her landlord, arranged by her sponsoring employer in the UK.

Further complicating matters, a live-in carer from Ghana recounted facing threats of dismissal and visa revocation after voicing concerns to her manager about the lack of time off, enduring nearly four months without respite.

Shadow care minister Andrew Gwynne emphasized that these distressing revelations underscored the government's failure to address the social care crisis adequately. "It is imperative that we establish a system where the exploitation of overseas workers is unequivocally condemned, with robust measures in place to hold perpetrators accountable," he asserted.

Responding to the issue, a spokesperson from the Home Office reiterated their condemnation of offering employment to health and care worker visa holders under pretences, emphasizing a commitment to eradicating illegal practices in the labour market. They announced measures requiring providers in England to only sponsor migrant workers engaged in activities regulated by the Care Quality Commission, aiming to curb exploitation within the care sector.

Holistic Healthcare Cambridge and all it's franchisees are committed to providing our care workers the best treatment possible and upholding their rights whenever possible. It is our duty as their sponsor to provide them the treatment and respect they deserve. Our care workers are our partners in success and without them our care force will inevitably collapse.