I am a local care provider - how do I engage with the displaced worker pool in BNSSG?

Back in April the government announced that it would require care providers to first prioritise displaced workers that were already in the UK, before looking to hire new sponsored care workers from abroad, or on a different immigration route.

As of 22nd July 2025, the UK government has closed the immigration route to bring new sponsored care workers into the UK. This meane that you will no longer be able to assign Defined Certificates of Sponsorship for SOC Codes 6135 (Care Workers) and 6136 (Senior Care Workers). It also means that there is longer a requirement for care providers to prioritise displaced workers before hiring new staff from overseas.

Do I still need to engage with the displaced worker pool?

The is no requirement to engage with the displaced worker pool after 22 July 2025.

However, there are still displaced workers looking for new sponsors and so it has been decided that a process that gives care providers the opportunity to support displaced workers should continue. Providers are strongly encouraged to continue to engage with the existing pool of redeployed workers.

What is the new process?

The displaced worker pool will still be managed by South West Councils in the South West, so please continue to liaise with them. Their email is commissioning.swadass@swcouncils.gov.uk

However, the new process is slightly different from the previous one in that the provider engagement will involve sharing details of the role that you are looking to fill. This role will be added to the database 'Job Base' and then shared with displaced workers looking for a new sponsor. You will then be contacted directly by a displaced workers who would like to apply for the role that you have shared.

To register with the new process as a BNSSG care provider please complete the MS Form for the council to which you provide your service, and which is most appropriate for where the role is located:

Bristol - https://forms.office.com/e/dciscEnfbq

North Somerset - https://forms.office.com/e/bMen98QMDa

South Gloucestershire - https://forms.office.com/e/bBbcsirBvK

The information you provide will be added to a 'Jobs Base' which will be shared with workers in the redeployment pool within your operating area, and within five working days.

Any sponsored workers who are in the displaced pool will have access to the provider vacancies based in their location. Once their information has been processed, it will be passed on to the local authority team who will be in touch with them within five working days. All workers in the redeployment pool will have a reference number — please ask them to quote this when contacting you.

Please note: It is your responsibility, as a provider, to assess the potential candidates are suitable for the roles you are looking to fill.

We would ask you to continue to support displaced workers across BNSSG, but this process is new and as such may take some getting used to.

You can also contact SWADASS directly by emailing: commissioning.swadass@swcouncils.gov.uk

If, in the meantime, you have any questions please contact us: sponsorship@careandsupportwest.com