Skip to content

International Recruitment

  • Skills for Care have a dedicated webpage to support care providers to explore strategies and best practices for recruiting internationally to address ongoing workforce capacity challenges: International recruitment. 

    • Within the above webpage is a link to an ‘International recruitment toolkit for social care’, coproduced by the Department of Health and Social Care and Skills for Care, to support good practice in adult social care: International recruitment toolkit - March 2024.

  • Gloucestershire Care Provider Association (GCPA):

    • GCPA offer an international recruitment peer support network via a WhatsApp group called the "International Recruitment & Retention Management Network", which is open to all Gloucestershire adult social care providers. It is a supportive space for providers to connect and share information, resources, advice and inspiration about international recruitment and retention. To join the network, please click here to complete the registration form.

  • Skills for Care have a dedicated webpage to support care providers to explore strategies and best practices for recruiting internationally to address ongoing workforce capacity challenges: International recruitment. 

    • Within the above webpage is a link to an ‘International recruitment toolkit for social care’, coproduced by the Department of Health and Social Care and Skills for Care, to support good practice in adult social care: International recruitment toolkit - March 2024.

  • Gloucestershire Care Provider Association (GCPA):

    • GCPA offer an international recruitment peer support network via a WhatsApp group called the "International Recruitment & Retention Management Network", which is open to all Gloucestershire adult social care providers. It is a supportive space for providers to connect and share information, resources, advice and inspiration about international recruitment and retention. To join the network, please click here to complete the registration form.
  • UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) and Home Office guidance: 

 

  • Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) guidance:

 

  • Borderless is an immigration technology platform that supports employers and individuals with everything from hiring, sponsorship, visa process and compliance. Borderless offer the following resources on their website for employers: 

    • Free webinars on the latest immigration updates and best practices, delivered by immigration professionals and industry experts: Events 

    • Free, downloadable checklists to help employers navigate immigration, sponsorship and Home Office requirements: Checklist 

    • Free blogs with the latest news, research and insights on immigration: Blog 

    • Glossary containing key Home Office and UK immigration terms: Immigration Glossary: UK Immigration Terms & Definitions | Borderless 

    • The Resources section of the Borderless Immigration website also contains a ‘Tools’ section which includes: Sponsor Licence Eligibility Assessment; Sponsor Licence Cost; Skilled Worker Minimum Salary Calculator; Immigration Skill Charge Calculator.

  • UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) and Home Office guidance: 

 

  • Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) guidance:

 

  • Borderless is an immigration technology platform that supports employers and individuals with everything from hiring, sponsorship, visa process and compliance. Borderless offer the following resources on their website for employers: 

    • Free webinars on the latest immigration updates and best practices, delivered by immigration professionals and industry experts: Events 

    • Free, downloadable checklists to help employers navigate immigration, sponsorship and Home Office requirements: Checklist 

    • Free blogs with the latest news, research and insights on immigration: Blog 

    • Glossary containing key Home Office and UK immigration terms: Immigration Glossary: UK Immigration Terms & Definitions | Borderless 

    • The Resources section of the Borderless Immigration website also contains a ‘Tools’ section which includes: Sponsor Licence Eligibility Assessment; Sponsor Licence Cost; Skilled Worker Minimum Salary Calculator; Immigration Skill Charge Calculator.

Proud to Care Gloucestershire are excited to highlight some new support offers available for adult social care providers in our county. Please find further information below:

Legal Helpline & Immigration Bulletins

RWK Goodman are offering a legal helpline for Southwest care providers. Gloucestershire will have access to 3 free helpline calls a month, available on a first come first serve basis, where a team of experienced immigration specialists provide support on ad hoc queries for up to 30 minutes.

RWK Goodman have established a dedicated email address for providers to request access to the legal helpline - please email immigrationhelpline@rwkgoodman.com and include the following information:

  • Your name;
  • Your contact details;
  • A brief summary of the query;
  • The entity you are calling from, if possible.

Once RWK Goodman receive your query, one of the team will then be in touch to arrange a suitable time for the call.

As part of the helpline offer, RWK Goodman are also producing a regular bulletin on immigration issues for care providers. The bulletins can be located on the right-hand side of this webpage.

Self-Audit Checklist

With the care sector facing heightened scrutiny, providers holding a sponsor licence have a higher chance of receiving a real-life compliance visit.

RWK Goodman have developed a self-audit checklist for providers across the Southwest to help you review your duties and understand key compliance requirements. A link to the downloadable checklist can be found here: RWK Goodman Self-Audit Checklist for Care Providers.

Proud to Care Gloucestershire are excited to highlight some new support offers available for adult social care providers in our county. Please find further information below:

Legal Helpline & Immigration Bulletins

RWK Goodman are offering a legal helpline for Southwest care providers. Gloucestershire will have access to 3 free helpline calls a month, available on a first come first serve basis, where a team of experienced immigration specialists provide support on ad hoc queries for up to 30 minutes.

RWK Goodman have established a dedicated email address for providers to request access to the legal helpline - please email immigrationhelpline@rwkgoodman.com and include the following information:

  • Your name;
  • Your contact details;
  • A brief summary of the query;
  • The entity you are calling from, if possible.

Once RWK Goodman receive your query, one of the team will then be in touch to arrange a suitable time for the call.

As part of the helpline offer, RWK Goodman are also producing a regular bulletin on immigration issues for care providers. The bulletins can be located on the right-hand side of this webpage.

Self-Audit Checklist

With the care sector facing heightened scrutiny, providers holding a sponsor licence have a higher chance of receiving a real-life compliance visit.

RWK Goodman have developed a self-audit checklist for providers across the Southwest to help you review your duties and understand key compliance requirements. A link to the downloadable checklist can be found here: RWK Goodman Self-Audit Checklist for Care Providers.

Please note that, as of 22nd July 2025, there have been some significant changes to the UK immigration rules which came into effect as part of the government’s wider reforms aimed at restoring order and control to the immigration system. Further information can be found here: Major immigration reforms delivered to restore order and control - GOV.UK .

As of this date, the route for recruiting workers from overseas has officially closed. Consequently, the previous requirement from UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) for providers to first attempt recruitment from the redeployment pool has now ended. 

Despite this change, providers are still strongly encouraged to utilise their regional hubs to recruit from the existing pool of redeployed workers.  

In response to these changes, the Southwest Hub has streamlined the redeployment process to give both providers and workers greater autonomy and control, while also reducing the time it takes to match candidates with vacancies. We recognise that provider job vacancies are often time-sensitive, and this updated approach is designed to support faster, more efficient recruitment. 

For providers in the Southwest, your regional hub contact is: 
commissioning.swadass@swcouncils.gov.uk 

From Monday 21st July 2025, when you email the hub mailbox, you will receive an automated reply containing a link to a Microsoft Form. 

  • Providers will be asked to complete one of 15 forms, each corresponding to a specific Local Authority area. 

  • Please ensure you select the form that matches the location of your vacancy. 

  • The information you submit will automatically feed into a live ‘Jobs Base’ spreadsheet, which is shared with workers from the relevant local redeployment pool. 

This live Jobs Base allows workers to view up-to-date vacancies in their area and apply directly. 

All workers in the redeployment pool will continue to have a worker reference number. Please ask them to quote their reference numbers when contacting you.

Please note that, as of 22nd July 2025, there have been some significant changes to the UK immigration rules which came into effect as part of the government’s wider reforms aimed at restoring order and control to the immigration system. Further information can be found here: Major immigration reforms delivered to restore order and control - GOV.UK .

As of this date, the route for recruiting workers from overseas has officially closed. Consequently, the previous requirement from UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) for providers to first attempt recruitment from the redeployment pool has now ended. 

Despite this change, providers are still strongly encouraged to utilise their regional hubs to recruit from the existing pool of redeployed workers.  

In response to these changes, the Southwest Hub has streamlined the redeployment process to give both providers and workers greater autonomy and control, while also reducing the time it takes to match candidates with vacancies. We recognise that provider job vacancies are often time-sensitive, and this updated approach is designed to support faster, more efficient recruitment. 

For providers in the Southwest, your regional hub contact is: 
commissioning.swadass@swcouncils.gov.uk 

From Monday 21st July 2025, when you email the hub mailbox, you will receive an automated reply containing a link to a Microsoft Form. 

  • Providers will be asked to complete one of 15 forms, each corresponding to a specific Local Authority area. 

  • Please ensure you select the form that matches the location of your vacancy. 

  • The information you submit will automatically feed into a live ‘Jobs Base’ spreadsheet, which is shared with workers from the relevant local redeployment pool. 

This live Jobs Base allows workers to view up-to-date vacancies in their area and apply directly. 

All workers in the redeployment pool will continue to have a worker reference number. Please ask them to quote their reference numbers when contacting you.

Care providers can seek support from their Local Authority's Director of Adult Social Services (DASS) to request for information to be sent to UKVI to support the expedition of their undefined Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) applications for sponsoring international care workers in England.

The process will begin with a provider contacting their Local Authority International Recruitment Team in the area where they are seeking to fill a vacancy, requesting support with undefined CoS application(s). In Gloucestershire, your Local Authority International Recruitment team contact is ptc@gloucestershire.gov.uk. The provider will be asked to submit additional operational details to the Local Authority to support their request.

Once this information is received, the Local Authority will review it alongside their internal teams and databases. This process aims to enhance UKVI’s understanding by incorporating local intelligence, facilitated through a letter from the DASS, providing factual information about the provider. In Gloucestershire, the Local Authority DASS is Sarah Scott.

If the Local Authority DASS agrees to expedite the provider’s undefined CoS application(s), they will confirm this with UKVI. However, if the Local Authority DASS cannot support the expedition of a undefined CoS application, UKVI will be notified, and the provider’s application will follow the usual process and timeframe.

A process map outlining the approach for Gloucestershire which care providers must follow to access this support can be found here.

Care providers can seek support from their Local Authority's Director of Adult Social Services (DASS) to request for information to be sent to UKVI to support the expedition of their undefined Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) applications for sponsoring international care workers in England.

The process will begin with a provider contacting their Local Authority International Recruitment Team in the area where they are seeking to fill a vacancy, requesting support with undefined CoS application(s). In Gloucestershire, your Local Authority International Recruitment team contact is ptc@gloucestershire.gov.uk. The provider will be asked to submit additional operational details to the Local Authority to support their request.

Once this information is received, the Local Authority will review it alongside their internal teams and databases. This process aims to enhance UKVI’s understanding by incorporating local intelligence, facilitated through a letter from the DASS, providing factual information about the provider. In Gloucestershire, the Local Authority DASS is Sarah Scott.

If the Local Authority DASS agrees to expedite the provider’s undefined CoS application(s), they will confirm this with UKVI. However, if the Local Authority DASS cannot support the expedition of a undefined CoS application, UKVI will be notified, and the provider’s application will follow the usual process and timeframe.

A process map outlining the approach for Gloucestershire which care providers must follow to access this support can be found here.

Proud to Care Gloucestershire have a dedicated webpage for signposting to employment, pastoral and wellbeing support resources for international recruits. 

Topics include:

  • Finding new employment and employability skills;
  • Immigration and employment advice, including reporting issues with an employer;
  • Support with finances, housing and food;
  • Information on the HealthZone UK App for Gloucestershire care workers;
  • Digital resources and training;
  • English, maths and functional skills training;
  • Driving and public transport information;
  • Funded childcare information;
  • Healthcare services;
  • Domestic abuse information and support;
  • Wellbeing support;
  • Local recreational and leisure information.

Please see International Recruits Support for further information.

Proud to Care Gloucestershire have a dedicated webpage for signposting to employment, pastoral and wellbeing support resources for international recruits. 

Topics include:

  • Finding new employment and employability skills;
  • Immigration and employment advice, including reporting issues with an employer;
  • Support with finances, housing and food;
  • Information on the HealthZone UK App for Gloucestershire care workers;
  • Digital resources and training;
  • English, maths and functional skills training;
  • Driving and public transport information;
  • Funded childcare information;
  • Healthcare services;
  • Domestic abuse information and support;
  • Wellbeing support;
  • Local recreational and leisure information.

Please see International Recruits Support for further information.