With Brexit looming, No-Deal on the table care industry employers are being urged to check if visa applications are required and have been applied for.

Recruitment platform Novacare has cited public figures that suggest as many as 100,000 jobs in social care could be at risk, with many employers unaware of the extent disruption that this could cause on their organisation. 

Stephen Wilson, CEO and Co-Founder at novacare, said: “With 8% of health and social care staff being from the EU, it is imperative that businesses converse with their staff and understand if visa applications have been applied for. 

“Undoubtedly there is set to be a myriad of issues around recruitment and retention of EU employers from the impending Brexit date of Oct 31^st, which is why it’s so important that businesses act now, and ensure that they are fully prepared for everything.”

novacare says it supports local authorities, NHS and service providers to recruit staff and will be offering a full social care recruitment and retention consultation package on the run up to Brexit.

The recruitment platform is also urging businesses that qualify, to apply for the Brexit Support Grant, funded by the Scottish Government, that will provide a minimum of £2,000 and a maximum of £4,000 to help small to medium-sized enterprises in Scotland manage a wide range of Brexit impacts.

Wilson added: “Businesses have a responsibility to understand all of their options and if the pool of staff have diminished already due to Brexit concerns, then it’s imperative that we support the industry by informing them around what processes need to be put into place to deal with staff recruitment and retention effectively.”