The world – including the British crowd – hasn’t completely come to terms with Brexit. The post Brexit scenario shows mixed feelings across sectors and age groups. One of those is elderly care.
The care sector as a whole has come under pressure to ensure that services are maintained and ready to grow and improve as the rising numbers of elderly and those requiring additional care and support grows.
The concerns over Brexit affecting staffing levels as and when the full effects of the transition periods and legalities settle down have led many care homes and providers of home care services to look closely at recruitment policies and how they can keep up the staff levels needed to ensure safe operation if the number of EU workers declines.
Post Brexit – A Complete Breakdown Of The Changes
If you are someone who isn’t well versed with Britain’s exit from the EU or, as popularly called Brexit, here’s a complete rundown for you.
Brexit occurred on 31 January 2020 at 23:00 GMT or 1 February 2020 at 00:00 CET.
Some of the factors that played a major role in the exit include:
- Immigration
- Sovereignty
- Anti-establishment politics, among others.
The referendum resulted in nearly 52% of the votes favouring leaving the European Union or EU.
Impact on Older Adults in the UK
Here are some ways the post Brexit air affects older citizens:
- Older adults no longer get access to the European Charter of Fundamental Rights as it no longer forms part of UK law.
- The older adults from the EU countries who cannot avail of the Settlement scheme will receive proper care and support.
- Older adults living in the EU can continue to claim the State pension and avail themselves of state benefits.
- If older citizens wish to return to the UK due to concerns, advice services will be available immediately.
These were some of the most important ways the post Brexit impact will be taken care of for the older populace.
A Changing Market
Market conditions have changed considerably since 2020 due to us leaving the confines of the EU and the COVID-19 pandemic, causing staffing constraints across the entire sector.
Care home admission inquiries and referrals have reduced, yet there has been an upturn in live-in care and supported living requirements.
There will be an increase in demand for care home places and supported care at home over the next year.
With demand growing as more people are assessed when lockdown restrictions, self-isolating, and shielding measures end.
Currently, a large number of those needing care are having their needs met by furloughed families, and this has seen the usual steady need for care places reduce as a family steps in.
As they return to work, the need to seek suitable care for their loved one will arise, and live-in care will likely be seen as a suitable choice. The roll-out of the vaccine will see increased confidence in society and demand in the care sector will rise and will likely return to pre-pandemic levels.
Differing Needs for Care
There will also be more medical assessments and routine procedures being carried out, which will see a need for some short-term care provision. In-home carers are often chosen as an alternative to rehabilitation centres or temporary care homestays.
Businesses need to be ready to meet these demands. Having a business that is planned and ready requires it to be innovative and address business contingencies and sustainability.
All care providers will, as a result of both Brexit and the pandemic, need to strengthen their risk governance. The effects of PPE shortages throughout the early stages of the pandemic have highlighted the importance of having multiple supply lines.
Perhaps there is a need to be less reliant on supplies from abroad, which will now likely see additional import costs due to post-EU legislation.
There is also the risk that we may again see disruption to supply lines caused by border issues should a further lockdown or tightening be enforced.
Importing supplies will require more consideration and possible costs for post-EU trade. Care sector businesses should visit their risk and contingency planning more frequently, monthly is now advised.
Alongside real-time cash flow forecasting, to ensure that businesses can react quickly and remain financially agile at short notice.
Rising insurance costs alongside rising IPC costs, the additional challenges of supply lines, and the need to review services have cost the care industry dearly.
Many have needed to update technology and refurbish buildings, not least to provide additional storage for the extra supplies required to provide greater and more regular hygiene control, but also the provision of larger rooms to enable social distancing or visitor pods and IT equipment.
Government Changes Post-Brexit
Several of the society’s sections were affected by Brexit – from trading to business and travel. But one of the major changes that directly impacts the masses was as follows:
Importing Goods
Import and customs duties may now be payable on goods imported, and a requirement to check that the business sending the goods to you can export them from their country.
Additional licenses or certificates may now be required by both parties to import goods to the UK or risk that they will be held up or detained on arrival, an inconvenience at best that may lead to additional unwanted costs.
Where you seek to import human medicines, controlled drugs, or hazardous chemicals, you may need to obtain special licenses or certificates before import.
Staffing
The social care sector has relied heavily on staffing from the EU, and with the aftermath of the transition period and moving onto the new requirements for EU nationals to live and work in the UK, there has been great concern that for some time to come, we could be faced with staffing shortages.
There is a risk that senior care workers and other skilled roles will fall short of any criteria set for access to work in the UK, as virtually none of the jobs meet the required salary threshold.
The concern that it will take a listing on the shortage occupations list to allow immigration for these roles has led to care sector businesses seeking to recruit from within the UK.
This inevitably leads to a focus on targeting recruitment throughout the UK workforce.
Training
The need to offer training and opportunities to those already permitted to work in the UK has been boosted. This is due to the unfortunate rise in unemployment caused by the pandemic.
The government is calling for businesses to focus heavily on recruiting domestic workers and the need to reduce the rising unemployment.
This presents opportunities for those in the care home sector to offer attractive career progression through training and mentoring. In addition, review staffing structures, and consider team well-being and job satisfaction.
Retaining existing staff is now more important than ever to avoid potential recruitment issues. Consistency of staff ultimately benefits those receiving care.
What’s More?
Live-in care is a sector that benefits highly from the consistency of staff. The individuals receiving care have a very personal relationship with their chosen carer.
And businesses that retain staff will be able to offer them the security of staff. Thus, reinforcing the opinion that live-in care is an ideal alternative to care homes.
The pandemic also has seen live-in care as a safer way to have loved ones’ needs met. Without additional restrictions that have been necessary for those in residential care homes.
Wrapping It Up!
That was all about the different impact of post Brexit on the elderly population and their live-in care. The article also illustrates how the elderly populace – irrespective of their nationalities – are impacted by Brexit.
If you or someone you know is trying to understand the post Brexit scenario, direct them to us or official government websites for the best help!
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