NEWS
Occupational therapists officially included in new visa scheme
The Home Office has officially announced that a new health and
care visa will be launched this summer, creating a new fast-track
visa route for eligible health and care professionals including
occupational therapists.
The new visa – previously known as the NHS visa – and
immigration rules will allow registered occupational therapists
from overseas who have received a job offer in the UK, and are
expected to be paid at least the NHS rate for the role, to secure a
work visa.
RCOT has been campaigning and meeting with government
officials about the need to ensure minimal disruption to the overseas
workforce and has highlighted concerns for the 3,000 occupational
therapists who qualified overseas and work in the UK.
Julia Scott, RCOT chief executive, said: ‘It is welcomed that
occupational therapists will be included in the health and care
visa arrangements, allowing for expedited entry to the UK for
occupational therapists and a wide array of health and care
professionals.
‘Occupational therapists are on the shortage list of professions
and with the surge in demand for rehabilitation support, we are
vital to the health and care response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
This announcement will give some reassurance to our current and
future workforce across the UK, as well as employers and service
commissioners.
‘However, we are concerned that large elements of the social
care workforce have once again been excluded from the recent
announcement. Whilst the government mentions a possible
reimbursement scheme for those not eligible for the visa or
surcharge exemption, currently many care workers – those that
care for our most vulnerable – do not even reach the baseline
salary requirement for the new points-based system, which
would lead to an even bigger workforce challenge for the care
sector.’
RCOT recently wrote to the Prime Minister to highlight these
concerns as part of the Cavendish Coalition, which brings
together health and social care organisations working on post-
Brexit workforce concerns.
Full details of the new visa and immigration rules can be
found at: www.gov.uk/guidance/new-immigration-system-whatyou-need-to-know.
England’s new NHS People Plan aims to address pandemic challenges and improve
staff wellbeing
England’s new NHS People Plan has been published with an
aim to improve staff wellbeing and address workforce challenges
created by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Changes include:
• a return to practice recruitment drive will take place for
former staff, over the next two years, building on the interest
of clinical staff who returned to the frontline to offer support
during the pandemic. A recent survey of returners found that
half were interested in continuing to work in the health and
social care system;
• a new international marketing campaign will also be launched
to recruit more overseas workers;
• the government announced a new £10 million fund for clinical
placements, building on the already-announced funding for
undergraduate student grants;
• all NHS organisations must complete risk assessments for
vulnerable staff, including black and ethnic minority (BAME)
colleagues, and take action where needed. NHS organisations
will also need to publish progress on ensuring the workforce is
representative of the overall BAME workforce;
• a new pilot approach to improving staff mental health by
establishing resilience hubs will be put in place, and a new
quarterly staff survey will also be launched in addition to the
current annual one to better track morale; and
• from January 2021, all job roles in NHS England must be
advertised as being available for flexible working patterns.
Julia Scott, RCOT chief executive, said: ‘RCOT welcomes the
publication of the NHS People Plan, which has been a long time
coming. The work of occupational therapists in the NHS has been
profound, particularly throughout COVID-19, which has posed
great risks to their personal health and wellbeing.
‘It is positive that the plan has a focus on staff welfare,
particularly as there could be a second wave of the virus and the
huge winter pressures that we expect to come alongside it soon.
‘I am also glad to see that there is a focus on the awful
discrimination that many NHS staff face, especially when evidence
has also shown that members of the BAME community have
been disproportionately affected by COVID-19 itself.
‘Addressing the difficulties, such as the safety and wellbeing of
staff, is key to all of this and I hope that the ambitions laid out in
this plan will meet the challenges faced ahead.
‘However, the NHS People Plan does not outline any new
financial support and therefore these ambitions will need more
money if they are to be implemented effectively down the line.
‘The upcoming comprehensive spending review in the autumn
is an opportunity to address this, as the workforce challenge is
growing, and as a profession on the shortage list of professions,
we have concerns about the future.
‘Social care must again be included in the process, as
well as a focus on the integration agenda, so that the people
delivering vital health and care services are well supported and
systems in place to ensure outstanding support to all of the UK’s
population.’
Unison is also calling for more investment and a pay increase
to properly fulfil the plan.
Read the report in full at: www.england.nhs.uk/ournhspeople.
OTnews August 2020 11