By . Matt Chorley, Mailonline Political Editor . Vulnerable pensioners may be at risk of poor care and even abuse because so many home helps cannot speak English properly, a government adviser warned yesterday. Agencies must ensure care workers have decent language skills before placing them in people’s homes, she said. One in five carers is a migrant, according to research by King’s College London. In some cities, it is thought around half of care workers are foreign nationals. Dr Shereen Hussein said that if carers cannot speak English properly, they risk being badly treated by patients . Dr Shereen Hussein, scientific adviser . to the Department of Health, said changes to immigration policy and the . relaxation of EU labour rules has altered the profile of migrants who . work as carers in the UK. Many . agencies do not adequately test language skills during interviews – . leading to risks that the elderly could become victims of ‘bad . treatment’, she said. While . migrants from outside the European Union are subject to rigorous . language tests, this is not the case for those who come from within it. More . and more care workers are now from EU accession countries such as . Poland and Hungary, where no language testing is required. Dr . Hussein told the BBC: ‘This means new migrants can be vulnerable when . they’re placed in people’s homes – and carers have reported instances of . racism and discrimination that stem from communication problems. ‘It . would be really beneficial to have a standard interview process to . establish English language proficiency, communication skills and softer . skills of all care workers aiming to work in the sector. ‘At . the moment, vulnerable workers are placed in the homes of vulnerable . adults with complex needs, and sometimes communication problems can . result in bad treatment for both parties.’ Prime Minister David Cameron told the Commons that he wanted to make sure people in the care system are properly trained . One . man, who wishes to remain anonymous, has a 62-year-old brother with a . severe form of dementia. He employed carers for 18 months to oversee the . care of his brother, but grew frustrated with the quality of the staff. He told 5 Live Breakfast the situation grew so problematic he took the decision to put his brother in a care home. ‘The dynamic between the carers and a frightened man who was suffering with dementia didn’t work most of the time,’ he said. ‘Almost . all the carers were from overseas, mainly from Poland. I found some of . them exceptionally difficult to understand, which meant my brother, in . his condition, was never going to understand them and the reaction from . him was to hide or get slightly violent.’ Dr . Hussein, of King’s College London’s social care workforce research . unit, added: ‘In the majority, migrant workers are very hard-working, . but sometimes when their English language is quite poor, that can put . both carers and the user in very vulnerable situations – especially if . they are the only carer. ‘Interview . standards are variable. We heard from care workers who admitted that . their English is not very good, and the interview process is quite . easy.’ Under Brussels right . to freedom of movement rules, it would be considered a breach to . prevent someone taking a job on the basis of their language alone. The BBC spoke to some former care workers from Hungary, who told of their struggles to communicate with clients. Hajnalka . Deak, who came to the UK in 2008, said: ‘To do the job you have to . understand the doctor’s instructions, report to relatives and speak to . agencies. ‘You have to help clients do things they can’t do for themselves, and it’s essential to understand their instructions. ‘I . remember once I worked with a wheelchair user. I had to strap him in . the car. Unfortunately I couldn’t understand the exact instructions and . we had to stay at home and couldn’t go anywhere. I felt partly . embarrassed and partly frustrated.’ But . Colin Angel, of the UK Home Care Association, which represents care . agencies, said there was not enough money for language training because . of council cuts. The Government is bringing in a new ‘care certificate’ to ensure carers have the necessary skills. Care . minister Norman Lamb added: ‘Employers are responsible for recruiting . staff who can competently speak and read English but communication will . be a key part of the Care Certificate.'
Dr Shereen Hussein warns language barriers could lead to poor care .
Claims foreign carers can be at risk of abuse from their own patients .
Half of carers working in the UK are thought to be foreign nationals .
By . Matt Chorley, Mailonline Political Editor . Vulnerable pensioners may be at risk of poor care and even abuse because so many home helps cannot speak English properly, a government adviser warned yesterday. Agencies must ensure care workers have decent language skills before placing them in people’s homes, she said. One in five carers is a migrant, according to research by King’s College London. In some cities, it is thought around half of care workers are foreign nationals. Dr Shereen Hussein said that if carers cannot speak English properly, they risk being badly treated by patients . Dr Shereen Hussein, scientific adviser . to the Department of Health, said changes to immigration policy and the . relaxation of EU labour rules has altered the profile of migrants who . work as carers in the UK. Many . agencies do not adequately test language skills during interviews – . leading to risks that the elderly could become victims of ‘bad . treatment’, she said. While . migrants from outside the European Union are subject to rigorous . language tests, this is not the case for those who come from within it. More . and more care workers are now from EU accession countries such as . Poland and Hungary, where no language testing is required. Dr . Hussein told the BBC: ‘This means new migrants can be vulnerable when . they’re placed in people’s homes – and carers have reported instances of . racism and discrimination that stem from communication problems. ‘It . would be really beneficial to have a standard interview process to . establish English language proficiency, communication skills and softer . skills of all care workers aiming to work in the sector. ‘At . the moment, vulnerable workers are placed in the homes of vulnerable . adults with complex needs, and sometimes communication problems can . result in bad treatment for both parties.’ Prime Minister David Cameron told the Commons that he wanted to make sure people in the care system are properly trained . One . man, who wishes to remain anonymous, has a 62-year-old brother with a . severe form of dementia. He employed carers for 18 months to oversee the . care of his brother, but grew frustrated with the quality of the staff. He told 5 Live Breakfast the situation grew so problematic he took the decision to put his brother in a care home. ‘The dynamic between the carers and a frightened man who was suffering with dementia didn’t work most of the time,’ he said. ‘Almost . all the carers were from overseas, mainly from Poland. I found some of . them exceptionally difficult to understand, which meant my brother, in . his condition, was never going to understand them and the reaction from . him was to hide or get slightly violent.’ Dr . Hussein, of King’s College London’s social care workforce research . unit, added: ‘In the majority, migrant workers are very hard-working, . but sometimes when their English language is quite poor, that can put . both carers and the user in very vulnerable situations – especially if . they are the only carer. ‘Interview . standards are variable. We heard from care workers who admitted that . their English is not very good, and the interview process is quite . easy.’ Under Brussels right . to freedom of movement rules, it would be considered a breach to . prevent someone taking a job on the basis of their language alone. The BBC spoke to some former care workers from Hungary, who told of their struggles to communicate with clients. Hajnalka . Deak, who came to the UK in 2008, said: ‘To do the job you have to . understand the doctor’s instructions, report to relatives and speak to . agencies. ‘You have to help clients do things they can’t do for themselves, and it’s essential to understand their instructions. ‘I . remember once I worked with a wheelchair user. I had to strap him in . the car. Unfortunately I couldn’t understand the exact instructions and . we had to stay at home and couldn’t go anywhere. I felt partly . embarrassed and partly frustrated.’ But . Colin Angel, of the UK Home Care Association, which represents care . agencies, said there was not enough money for language training because . of council cuts. The Government is bringing in a new ‘care certificate’ to ensure carers have the necessary skills. Care . minister Norman Lamb added: ‘Employers are responsible for recruiting . staff who can competently speak and read English but communication will . be a key part of the Care Certificate.'
Vulnerable pensioners may be at risk of poor care thought around half of care workers are foreign nationals. Dr Shereen Hussein said that if carers Hajnalka . Deak, who came to the UK in 2008,