Care homes forced to recruit overseas staff

One third of care homes in Dumfries and Galloway are being forced to recruit staff from overseas due to a shortage of Scottish-based workers.

- MARC MCLEAN

A new report has revealed that 33 percent of care home facilities in the region now rely on attracting foreign employees to fill gaps in the sector.

This figure ties in with the national stats as a survey by Scottish Care found that at least 11,294 international staff now make up an average of 32 percent of the care home workforce.

Nearly 7,000 of these international workers are currently employed on a visa.

This region’s situation was discussed at Dumfries and Galloway Council's social work committee last Thursday where a care home contracts monitoring report was tabled.

The report states: "Thirty-three per cent of care homes reported recruiting staff from overseas.