Unison has raised concerns over the dismissal of more than 50 migrant care workers at Young Epilepsy, after the Home Office revoked the charity’s licence to sponsor overseas workers.

It says that 53 staff “face an uncertain future” after being informed by email they will lose their jobs. Unison says they now face the threat of deportation unless they find another employer to sponsor their visas.

The union says the decision to revoke the charity’s licence follows Young Epilepsy reporting record keeping issues and discrepancies in salary information to the Home Office.

“In light of these issues, Unison and other unions asked the charity to provide staff with additional financial assistance and access to specialist immigration advice,” said the union, which alleges the charity “refused” to do this and “subsequently dismissed the workers”.

The workers involved have received pay to cover their notice period, but no further compensation, says the union.

Unison South East regional secretary Jo Galloway said: “These workers came here to care for some of this country's most vulnerable young people. Now they've lost their jobs and face an uncertain future through no fault of their own.”

The union says the issue at the charity highlights challenges with the current visa system. It wants to see the current system of employer sponsored visas replaced by sector wide system that would means overseas workers could move between employers within the care sector without harming their immigration status.

Galloway added: "Young Epilepsy should have done more to support them. But the bigger problem is a visa system that gives employers too much power over people's lives. The government must introduce sector-wide visas so workers aren't punished when things go wrong."

Unison Surrey branch co-secretary Emmett Stephens-Ducros said that staff involved "face the frightening prospect of having to leave the country. No worker should have their livelihood and future turned upside by an exploitative system”.

Specialist school workers impacted

A spokesperson for Young Epilepsy has confirmed that the Home Office's decision affects around one in ten of its workers, all working at its St Piers special school, near East Grinstead in Sussex.

"Affected colleagues were first informed about the situation in July and over the following months were provided access to immigration advice, mental health support and full pay, alongside a formal consultation process," said the spokesperson.

"Following notification from the Home Office in October, we were legally bound to bring their employment to an end, in line with Home Office requirements.

"The loss of these colleagues has been felt deeply across our community. They were valued members of our team who made an important contribution to the lives of the children and young people we support."

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