After a successful two year programme with Breaking Barriers, we are now entering a three year, bigger, bolder partnership to scale-up and respond to the sector’s needs. Together, we are connecting skilled, experienced individuals with opportunities that not only change lives but also help address critical staffing shortages in care.
Partnership Impact 2022-24:
Back in 2022, the health and social care sector consistently ranked as one of the top sectors in which Breaking Barriers clients aspired to work, yet refugees were often finding it challenging to secure employment.
At the same time, according to Skills for Care, vacancy rates in the care sector in England were at 8.2%, with 105,000 vacancies advertised on average each day. Turnover was also high, at 34.4%.
Breaking Barriers and the CareTech Foundation launched a new partnership to simultaneously reduce high unemployment rates among refugees and decrease high vacancy rates and turnover in the health and social care sector.
Funding from the CareTech Foundation helped Breaking Barriers to grow their employment support for refugees in London.
During our two year partnership, we supported 875 people of refugee background in total across the capital, over 40% of whom progressed in employment, education, volunteering or training. 90% told us they had more confidence and motivation to achieve their goals, and 87% had a greater understanding of their preferred job sector.
Almost 50 people of a refugee background took part in activities, such as insight sessions to upskill the Breaking Barriers team and clients in how the health and social care industry works, workshops on how to succeed in this sector, and two bespoke recruitment pathways in London and Manchester. Over 50% of the refugees who took part have already achieved employment, education or training in the health and social care sector.
The CareTech Foundation have also been vocal in advocating for change and sharing best practice via the Business Behind Refugees movement. Over the past two years, more than 60 clients have gained employment in the health and social care sector, a significant increase on previous years. This is a strong indicator that the work we have been doing to build foundations for change is already achieving success.
Partnership Update 2025-28:
The CareTech Foundation is proud to announce the renewal of its strategic partnership with Breaking Barriers.
The UK care sector faces a critical workforce shortage, currently facing over 131,000 unfilled vacancies. With the government’s recent restrictions on overseas recruitment of care workers threatening to further strain the sector, this renewed three-year partnership (2025–2028) comes at a crucial time.
Through this partnership, the Foundation will support Breaking Barriers in delivering tailored employability programmes, sector-specific skills workshops, and help strengthen connections to employers across the care industry. The initiative aims to unlock the potential of refugees who are skilled, experienced, and eager to contribute to the UK’s care workforce.
Health and social care has consistently ranked as one of the top sectors in which Breaking Barriers clients aspire to work. By investing in their futures, the Foundation hopes to address two urgent national priorities: the integration of refugees into the workforce and the sustainability of the UK’s care services.
On a wider scale, funding from the CareTech Foundation will enable Breaking Barriers to expand its employment and education initiatives. This includes the full integration of new Language and Re-accreditation Programmes, which will further strengthen the support available to refugees across the UK.
“It can never be overestimated how important it is that the UK care sector address its vacancy and retention challenges. Diverse recruitment does not have to begin with inexperience. With Breaking Barriers, we have already seen clear evidence that refugees bring a diversity of talent, skills and resources that enhance our sector, and they are passionate about staying and contributing. We look forward to supporting Breaking Barriers and championing their work and clients.”
“The work between Breaking Barriers and the CareTech Foundation has already been a powerful example of how two organisations with shared goals and combined expertise can drive meaningful change. We know that our clients can find security and fulfilment in the care sector but, too often, challenges are still preventing refugees from accessing the stable employment they need. We share the CareTech Foundation’s commitment to addressing those challenges, and we’re really excited to see what we can achieve together over the next three years.”
"'Working with CareTech to support our refugee clients has opened my eyes to the health and social care sector. I have learned so much about what applicants need to be successful. Seeing many of our clients engage with CareTech events and then go on to find employment or continue their education in health care has been so rewarding. Working with CareTech employees has been insightful and I know our clients have learned so much and so have I!"
