SW Adult Social Care International Recruitment

Visit the East of England SMP website to find webinars and self study modules on driving theory in the UK.

https://smp.eelga.gov.uk/migrant-workers/eon/driving-theory/.

The list of recruitment organisations, agencies, and collaborations that operate in accordance with the revised Code of Practice was updated on 1 March 2024.

Ethical Recruiters List A list of recruitment organisations, agencies, and collaborations that operate in accordance with the revised Code of Practice.

Visit the SW Employees Guide Moving to the UK at

International Recruitment: Moving to the UK - South West Councils International Recruitment – Moving to the UK This guide is for individuals who are planning to move to the UK from overseas and work in health and social care. Moving to the UK can be a difficult process for many different reasons, including: visas, cultural differences, the cost of living crisis ...

Banking in the UK:
To open a bank account, you will have to fill out an application form. This can be done in branch with the bank, online or, often, over the phone. You’ll need to provide certain details about yourself including: name, address and date of birth. You’ll also be asked to provide documents like your passport and proof of where you live, for example: a utility bill. But if you can’t provide one of the documents, they will accept a letter of referral from someone that knows you, like a GP or your manager. You can also go to the post office and pick up a biometric residence permit.

There are different terms and conditions with different banks, you need to select a bank with an account that suits you, because you will be in a contract with them.

There are a number of different types of bank accounts that you can open. They all serve different purposes and can include:

Current account – Using a current account helps you manage your day-to-day spending whether that’s paying bills or direct debits or receiving money from your employer.

Savings account – An account that can give you interest in your money and allows you to save money for the future, useful if you need to pay for expensive items or emergencies.

A bank can refuse to open a bank account for you and they don’t need to give a reason. But they cannot discriminate against you because of your race, religion, sexuality or disability. If you are discriminated against, please contact the financial ombudsman or the citizens advice bureau.

You could completely digitalise your banking by signing up to online banks like Monzo or Chase. Other banks do offer online services too. Managing your day-to-day spending can become a lot quicker with internet banking, you can pay bills more quickly too.

Free NHS treatment - Some types of healthcare are free to everyone and can be accessed by a person regardless of their immigration status.

See the NHS guide: How to register with a GP practice.

How to register with a GP surgery Find out how to register with a GP surgery in England.

The Open University offers a number of free courses that can be accessed online. Courses cover a wide range of subjects, from English skills for life and supporting children’s mental health and well-being, to the importance of interpersonal skills and planning a better future. Delivered in English, these courses are also a good way of improving your language skills.

Open Learning Anyone can learn for free on OpenLearn, but signing-up will give you access to your personal learning profile and record of achievements that you earn while you study.

The Department of Culture Media and Sport (DCMS) has created an interactive map which shares free and affordable events taking place.

Help for Households: Free and affordable events - Google My Maps A list of free and low cost England-wide activities, as part of the government's Help for Households campaign. For more information on the support available during the rising cost of living, please click the link here: https://helpforhouseholds.campaign.gov.uk/

The Met Office has recently launched their WeatherReady winter campaign which focuses on weather challenges and tips for the public.

https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/warnings-and-advice/weatherready?fbclid=IwAR2EygFhenJr0Zgug8ClRHMV5MJukuzVlCEKq7mVMkMA_qqBHGNwTREByWQ

The content focuses on three themes:
• Health and wellbeing
• Home and garden
• Out and about

WeatherReady Are you ready for the weather?

The MOT test checks that your vehicle meets road safety and environmental standards.

You must get an MOT for your vehicle by either:
the third anniversary of its registration the anniversary of its last MOT, if it’s over 3 years old

How often do you need an MOT?

An MOT lasts for a year. The date it runs out is printed on your current MOT pass certificate.

You can be fined up to £1,000 for driving a vehicle without a valid MOT.

You can get an MOT up to a month (minus a day) before it runs out and keep the same renewal date.

https://www.gov.uk/getting-an-mot #:~:text=An%20MOT%20lasts%20for%20a,keep%20the%20same%20renewal%20date.

The UK government is relaunching the ‘It All Adds Up’ campaign, a public information campaign on how to save money on energy bills.
https://helpforhouseholds.campaign.gov.uk/
Advice is available online via the Help for Households campaign website.

Help for households See what support is available to help with the cost of living and save money with our energy saving tips. Find out about the Cost of Living Payment on GOV.UK You may be able to get financial help if you claim certain benefits or tax credits. If you’re eligible, payments will be made automatically....

British Red Cross developed a free first aid app.
https://www.redcross.org.uk/first-aid/first-aid-apps
It’s full of simple, step-by-step instructions and video guidance on how to treat a range of medical emergencies – from cuts and broken bones to seizures, strokes and heart attacks.
The treatment advice covers all ages (including babies and children), runs on Android and iPhone, and the app works offline too. So as long as you’ve got your phone with you, you can be confident you’ll know what to do if someone is hurt or unwell.

Free first aid apps | Adult and baby | British Red Cross Learn first aid and stay prepared for emergencies. Download the British Red Cross' free first aid apps for iOS and Android.

Skills for Care are holding a Peer models of support: empowering connections in adult social care webinar on 17 October 2023.

This webinar will bring together adult social care employers, registered managers, care workers, individual employers, and personal assistants in the field of peer support to discuss best practice, success stories, and challenges.

This is an excellent opportunity to gain insights, network with peers, and contribute to the ongoing conversation about enhancing support in the workforce.

Peer models of support: empowering connections in adult social care webinar Peer support is defined and operated in a range of ways and in some instances is not explicitly described as peer support. The essence of peer support is that it offers something that is mutually beneficial.

The Department for Education is encouraging parents and carer to know the NHS ‘Is my child too ill for school?’ guidance.
https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/is-my-child-too-ill-for-school/
It includes useful information for parents including when is it appropriate for parents and carers to send their children to school with a mild illness.

Is my child too ill for school? Find out when it's best to keep your sick child at home and when it's OK to send them to school or nursery.

Volunteers Needed..... We have scheduled some dates for focus groups of existing overseas’ workers to meet virtually with independent officers to discuss their experiences of recruitment and pastoral support:

Dates available are:

• Tuesday 19 September: 10.00-11.00
• Wednesday 20 September: 11.00 – 12.00
• Monday 25 September: 10.30-11.30

If you are an working in adult social care and have been recruited form overseas, and are happy to have a chat virtually to offer your views please email [email protected].

If you missed that the Code of Practice for the international recruitment of health and social care personnel in England was updated in August, you can find it at

Code of practice for the international recruitment of health and social care personnel in England We’d like to set additional cookies to understand how you use GOV.UK, remember your settings and improve government services.

There is an extensive train and bus network across the UK. To use public transport, you usually have to buy a ticket before travelling.

For national trains or buses, tickets are usually much cheaper if bought in advance. You can find out more information on the national rail website: www.nationalrail.co.uk

You don’t need to show identification to travel between England and Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland unless you are travelling by plane.

National Rail - Welcome to the Official source for UK trains | National Rail You've found the gateway into Britain's national train and rail network. The portal to rail travel, including train company information, promotions; train times; fares enquiries; ticket purchase and train running information.

If you or a family member has an accident or a sudden serious illness you should go to your nearest hospital with an Accident and Emergency department which is free for everyone.

If it is an extreme emergency call 999 and ask for an ambulance to transport you to a hospital. This service is free of charge and should only be used in an emergency. If you are able to, you may also make your own way to the Accident and Emergency department.

Do not use Accident and Emergency for minor medical problems.
Once your medical situation has been stabilised in the Accident and Emergency department you may need to stay in a specialist department of the hospital until you have fully recovered and can return home.

If you urgently need medical help or advice but it’s not a life-threatening situation call NHS 111 or https://111.nhs.uk/.

The largest religion in the UK is Christianity, with 33.2 million people (59% of the population). The second largest religion is Islam, with 2.7 million people (5% of the population). Around a quarter of the UK population practise no religion.

The UK is a multi-faith society and there are mosques, churches, synagogues, temples and other places of worship in larger towns or cities. Many newcomers to the UK have found that they have had support and help through their place of worship and have also made friends who have helped them to adapt and made them feel welcome. There are groups like the Inter Faith Network for the UK (https://www.interfaith.org.uk/) which may help you to find a place of worship such as a local church, mosque or Buddhist temple.

The Inter Faith Network The Inter Faith Network for the UK works to promote understanding, cooperation and good relations between organisations and persons of different faiths in the UK.

The UK uses British spelling, which differs slightly to American English. There are many different regional accents across the UK. Welsh is also widely used and taught in Wales and there are other recognised regional languages such as Scots Gaelic,
Scots, Irish/Gaelic and Cornish.

For more information visit

Learn English Online | British Council Learn English online using our high-quality resources to quickly improve your English. Take our free level test to help you find your English language level, then find lessons and resources that are just right for you.

Throughout the year there are festivals of art, music and culture, such as the Notting Hill Carnival in London and the Edinburgh Festival in Scotland. The main Christian festivals are Christmas and Easter, and there are also customs and traditions from various religions, such as Eid (Muslim), Diwali (Hindu) and Hanukkah (Jewish) which are widely recognised and celebrated amongst communities in the UK.

The UK is home to some of the world's top museums and art galleries – many of which are free to visit – music venues and theatres. Outside the cities there is beautiful countryside and many castles, historic houses, parks and gardens.
For more information, please see

VisitBritain Planning a holiday to the UK? Discover everything you need to know about visiting England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland with the official guide!

If you are thinking about applying for health and social care jobs in the UK from abroad check out the Government's guidance at

Applying for health and social care jobs in the UK from abroad Guidance for prospective international applicants for health and social care jobs in the UK.

Welcome to our new Adult Social Care for overseas workers page. We hope to keep you up to date with information and resources relating to working in the UK but specially within the South West of England. As you will see below, we cover a wide geographical area and are here to support home care, nursing care and social workers and occupational therapists working in adult social care in the South West.

SW Adult Social Care International Recruitment A welcome Hub for Overseas Workers in Adult Social Care in South West England