A WHITCHURCH home care service has embarked on sponsorship tie-up with international staff.

AStar Homecare Services in Whitchurch has recently joined forces with Recruit2Care.

The company has recently brought four ladies from Uganda to Whitchurch to progress their careers in the care sector.

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In February 2022 care workers were added to the Health and Care Worker visa shortage occupation list, enabling these roles to be recruited from overseas.

Gill Holden, owner and director told us:  “It has been such a different journey for us and a huge investment, but we are so excited to be changing more peoples lives.

“We were so lucky and able to e prepare a home and with the help of an incredible community, fully kit out the house for them ready.”

The four Ugandan team members arrived to the town in July and had four weeks of training.

Mrs Holden added: “I think we could learn a lot from them.

“They had four weeks training and are now really settled into their roles and supporting AStar to change lives and support yet more people”.

Government can confirm that it is making £15 million available over 2023 to 2024 to help support international recruitment within the adult social care sector.

Specific requirements must be met when recruiting social care workers from overseas, including being an eligible employer with a valid sponsor licence in place. Eligible employers include the NHS, organisations providing medical services to the NHS, or those providing adult social care.

Mrs Holden continued: “Some have left their children to come and make a difference and earn money to send to their families.

“I admire them.

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“We have Margaret, Valia, Theresa and Rachel so far and we couldn’t be without them already.

“We now have plan to bring another six people to the UK in the coming weeks.”

The care sector has faced a lot of challenges over the last three years and Gill is hopeful this is a great way to solve the recruitment issue.