Local Authorities: Supporting International Care Workers in the West Midlands
Local Authorities Across the West Midlands Collaborating to Enhance Support for Care Providers & International Care Workers
Local authorities across the West Midlands play a crucial role in fostering a supportive environment for both care providers and international care workers.
Through tailored initiatives and resources, we aim to strengthen the adult social care sector and address key challenges such as ethical recruitment and worker retention.
We are working with International Recruitment (IR) Leads, across all of the 14 Local Authorities in the West Midlands to:
• Support care providers in navigating sponsorship regulations and maintaining compliance.
• Enhance protections for international care workers facing unethical practices or sponsorship issues.
• Provide resources that strengthen the recruitment and retention of skilled care workers in adult social care.
Enhanced Local Support Through the Small Grants Programme
There is also local support via a Small Grants Programme. Eight councils in the West Midlands are using the Small Grants Programme to develop unique initiatives tailored to local needs. These initiatives include:
- Training and development
- Housing advice
- Pastoral support
- Support with Sponsorship Licences
Alongside the Enhanced Support Offers, delivered by councils, we are working in partnership with IR Leads to deliver a Regional-wide model. This support includes:
Explore the support available
IR Legal & HR Support
As part of a regional programme of support we are supporting West Midlands CQC registered providers and Local Authorities with Legal and HR related support. This includes a free legal & HR helpline and much more.
Ethical Recruitment
Here, we share essential resources, tools, and guidance to support care providers in making informed, ethical decisions about international recruitment.
Support for International Workers
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.
Hire Sponsored Care Workers
Find out more
Resources
In this library we provide a range of national, regional and resources that may be helpful to local authorities and care providers who have international care workers or who are considering recruiting in adult social care from overseas.
Supporting Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS) Applications
Local Authorities can support care provider’s Supporting Certificates of Sponsorship 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.