Support for International Care Workers in the West Midlands

The 2024-25 International Recruitment Programme provides a dedicated space to support international care workers in the adult social care sector across the West Midlands.

Tailored regional-wide support and resources include:

Supporting Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS) Applications

Local Authorities can support care provider’s CoS applications in a bid to try and quickly secure sponsorship for displaced international care workers.

How Local Authorities Can Help with COS Applications

  • Assess CoS applications from providers using the provided UKVI checklist, which includes verifying contracts and ensuring that CoS requests are reasonable.
  • Submit a letter of support to UKVI once satisfied with the provider’s application.

Please note, the letter of support to help speed up CoS applications is optional and is not an endorsement, nor does it guarantee UKVI will accept the application. DASSs can decline to provide a letter of support if they do not have sufficient information, or if they cannot assure themselves that the number of CoS applied for is reasonable.

Helping Displaced International Care Workers Find a New Sponsor

We have partnered with Lifted creators of SponsorSwitch, a new service, to support Health and Care staff in the UK to find a new sponsored role.

They have a strong record of treating care workers with respect and helping them find new roles where they are treated well.

Some feedback from Tendai, one of the candidates Lifted has successfully placed into a new role:

“Lifted changed my life. They found me the perfect job with an employer that respects me and values me. They supported me through the tricky Visa process and they even helped secure my sister a new job too. They are always there when I need them. I can’t quite believe they exist. I thank God for them.”

Support for Care Workers Affected by Sponsorship License Revocation

If UKVI has informed an international care worker based in the West Midlands that their employer’s sponsorship license has been revoked, we help signpost them to regional support.

They are asked to Visit www.revoked.support to enter details and will then receive tailored guidance.

Legal & HR Helpline for Displaced Workers

Displaced international adult social care workers, living in the West Midlands, can access a FREE 30-minute consultation with a legal or HR specialist for advice on sponsorship or employment issues (please note this service cannot provide support for employment disputes or tribunals).

They can register for support at https://www.wmca.care/p2c/legal

Self-Serve Support Platform: My UK Life

International Care Workers, based in the West Midlands, can enhance their skills and connect with their community through our platform.

*If you are a Local Authority or Care Provider in the West Midlands and require these flyers in a difference language, we have a number on translations already available. Please email hello@wmca.international

Essential Guide: What to Ask a New Employer?

If we identify a potential safeguarding concern during our interactions with international care workers, we will ensure it is promptly forwarded to the relevant local authority safeguarding channel. This ensures that all concerns are addressed appropriately and in line with established protocols to protect workers and maintain ethical standards.

Safeguarding Concerns

If we identify a potential safeguarding concern during our interactions with international care workers, we will ensure it is promptly forwarded to the relevant local authority safeguarding channel.

This ensures that all concerns are addressed appropriately and in line with established protocols to protect workers and maintain ethical standards.

We also share information on safety for international care workers here.

FREE Bus Travel for Care Staff

We are working with Transport for West Midlands (TFWM) to offer your staff nine months of FREE bus travel, followed by three months at 50% off!