Welcome to the West Midlands Social Care

International Recruitment Hub

Connecting Care Providers and International Care Workers for a Better Future

Your go-to resource for international recruitment in the adult social care sector, across the West Midlands.

This Hub provides information, advice, and guidance tailored for:

  • Care providers
  • Local councils
  • International care workers

Developed by West Midlands ADASS, this Programme represents the 14 directors running adult social care services for local authorities across the region, working in partnership with care providers and local councils.

The Programme is being funded via the Department of Health and Social Care’s (DHSC)  International Recruitment Fund. to help address the unique challenges of international recruitment in adult social care.

Our Aim:

The Programme, launched in 2023, aimed to:

  • Help care providers tackle recruitment challenges.
  • Strengthen safeguards to protect care workers from exploitation.

In 2024–25, the focus expanded to support international care workers impacted by unethical practices or employer sponsorship revocations.

In 2025–26, the Programme focused more strongly on transition and retention — helping displaced workers remain in the adult social care workforce, return to ethical employment, and reducing poor employment practices across the sector.

In 2026–27, the Programme will focus on:

  • Supporting international care workers impacted by sponsor licence revocations (displaced workers) into new ethical employment as quickly as possible

Proactively engaging with adult social care providers to encourage recruitment of displaced workers and promote ethical recruitment practices

In 2025–2026 it is much more about supporting transition and retention – helping international care workers already in the UK, impacted by sponsor non-compliance or unethical practice, including pathways back into employment and to reduce poor employment practices.

What We Do

The Programme is designed to address the needs of key groups in the adult social care sector:

For Care Providers

CQC-registered care providers operating in the West Midlands, especially those with licensed sponsorships, will benefit from support and resources including:

  • Compliance support to navigate regulations.
  • HR and legal guidance.
  • Access to a pool of qualified, work-ready international care workers.

For International Care Workers

International care workers in the West Midlands impacted by sponsorship issues or unethical practices will have access to vital services including:

  • Job placement services.
  • Visa and sponsorship guidance.
  • Platforms to report unethical practices and seek resolution.

Local Innovation  Fund

A small pot of funding is now in place, through the West Midlands International Recruitment Programme, to provide local support in line with 2026-2027 IR programme objectives. The purpose is to enable Local Authorities to commission third sector and/or West Midlands care associations to support at a local level.

west midlands region map

How we can help…

International Care Workers

Explore resources tailored for international adult care workers in the West Midlands. Access job placement support, visa guidance, and a platform to report unethical practices.

Care Providers

Discover support for CQC-registered care providers, including HR & legal advice and access to a pool of qualified international care workers.

Local Authorities

Access resources to support Care Providers and International Care Workers, including webinars, HR support, and shared best practice.

Our latest news, blogs and updates about the West Midlands International Recruitment Programme.

Key learnings from the International Recruitment Programme

We have continually evaluated use of the Department of Health and Social Care International Recruitment Fund, which has meant we have been able to adapt the model as required.

We have produced a number of Learning & Evaluation Reports throughout the Programme. Our latest report evaluates its impact and shows how the learning can inform and strengthen the national Social Care Workforce Strategy.
 
Key learnings show the importance of:

  • Establishing a solid infrastructure – community partnerships, processes, governance.
  • Collaboration across sectors and levels adds value.
  • Strong onboarding, pastoral support and clear training pathways – learning which can be applied to the wider domestic care workforce. 
Key learnings from phase