The Hidden Cost of Uncertainty: Clarity House Survey Shows Visa Pressure Is Affecting Migrant Care Workers — And Why Employers Should Pay Attention

The UK health and social care sector depends heavily on migrant workers. They support vulnerable people daily, often under demanding emotional and physical conditions. But our ongoing Clarity House Care Worker Wellbeing Survey is beginning to highlight a quieter issue affecting the sector.

Early responses show over 50% of migrant care workers say visa pressure is affecting their mental wellbeing.

This matters not just for the individuals affected, but for organisations responsible for delivering safe and effective care.

Why this research matters now

With around 1 in 5 health and care workers in the UK coming from overseas, immigration uncertainty does not just affect individuals — it affects workforce stability.

Our survey, running until 30 April, is helping us understand how external pressures such as immigration changes, financial stress and family separation concerns are affecting emotional wellbeing.

Early findings suggest immigration rule changes are creating anxiety around:

• Job security

• Sponsorship stability

• Long-term settlement plans

• Family separation

The hidden operational risk: wellbeing and performance

Stress does not simply disappear when someone starts a shift.

When workers are under sustained pressure, it can affect:

• Focus and concentration• Emotional resilience• Confidence in decision making• Training engagement• Workplace communication

This has implications for organisations, particularly around:

• Staff performance• Training outcomes• Retention• Compliance environments

Why this can also affect CQC expectations

CQC inspections increasingly consider workforce wellbeing as part of organisational culture, leadership and safety environments.

Where staff are under high stress, organisations may indirectly see:

• Reduced engagement during mandatory training• Lower retention of learning• Increased burnout affecting supervision outcomes• Higher staff turnover affecting training continuity• Reduced confidence reporting incidents

Supporting staff wellbeing therefore supports:

• Safer care environments

• Stronger training outcomes

• Healthier workplace culture

• More stable teams

Key pressures migrant care workers report

Based on early responses, main concerns include:

• Visa uncertainty and immigration rule changes• Restrictions on bringing family members• Financial pressure linked to relocation and visa costs• Fear of losing sponsorship• Emotional isolation• Burnout from workload pressure

Why Clarity House created the £3 Care Worker Wellness Hour

To provide practical support, Clarity House created the Care Worker Wellness Hour (£3) — a structured wellbeing session designed specifically for care and support staff.

These sessions focus on practical, real-life support including:

• Stress management tools• Safe workplace incident reporting guidance• Understanding NHS and workplace rights• Visa navigation signposting• Wellbeing support pathways

Practical wellbeing topics we cover

We also discuss practical ways staff can protect their wellbeing including:

• Simple sleep improvement strategies• Supplements commonly used to support sleep routines (educational guidance only)• How to mentally switch off after demanding shifts• Accessing support resources earlier before burnout develops

Access wider support through the Clarity House Resource Hub

Beyond the survey, Clarity House is building a Resource Hub connecting people to:

• Private Clarity Sessions• The Gentle Rooms group support spaces• Professional referral networks• Wellbeing research insights• Support pathways for migration, legal and life challenges

The aim is simple:

Understand pressure early. Support people earlier. Prevent bigger problems later.

Help us reach 3,000 responses

We are currently gathering 3,000 responses to better understand the pressures affecting care workers.

The survey takes less than 10 seconds and is open until 30 April.

A simple truth the sector cannot ignore

Care workers are expected to support everyone else.

But many are carrying invisible pressure themselves.

Supporting workforce wellbeing is not just compassionate — it is practical risk management.

Stronger wellbeing leads to:

• Better staff stability

• Better training engagement

• Better care outcomes

• Better organisational resilience

  
  

Take part or access support

Take the Care Worker Wellbeing Survey here

Join the £3 Care Worker Wellness Hour here

Explore the Clarity House Resource Hub here