In this library we signpost you with a range of national and regional resources that may be helpful to you when considering recruiting in adult social care from overseas and supporting international care workers.
It is important that anyone exploring international recruitment is familiar with the Department of Health and Social Care’s Code of Practice.
Please take the time to consider this list of resources and links to further support.
Ethical Recruitment
We share essential resources, tools, and guidance to support care providers in making informed, ethical decisions about international recruitment.
International Care Workers: A guide for displaced workers
Law Firm, Lester Aldridge, has worked with us to create a short guide for international care workers. This includes:
- Proving your right to work in the UK to your new employer
- The rules around working supplementary employment
- The requirements for your dependents to stay with you in the UK
- What you should do if your visa is coming to an end
- Reporting instances of modern slavery
- Tips to consider when reviewing your employment contract
Right to Work
In this video, our legal partner Lester Aldridge provide guidance to social care providers on complying with their Right to Work obligations, including when and how to carry out Right to Work checks. We also provide some practical tips on easy measures providers can put in place to ensure that they won’t fall foul of non-compliance issues.
Legal & HR Resources
As part of a regional programme of support we are supporting West Midlands CQC registered care providers and Local Authorities with Legal and HR related support.
National Care Forum
The National Care Forum has produced a pastoral care guide, developed with the support of the Local Government Association and ADASS. This contains links to useful resources that will help social care employers to explore resettlement support and pastoral care for overseas recruits, including refugees and/or displaced people who are settled in the UK with the right to work.
Modern Day Slavery
Safeguarding and Wellbeing Directory
The Directory for Safeguarding and Wellbeing Services, featuring key services across the West Midlands and nationally, includes:
- Organisations to contact if you’re worried about someone’s safety or wellbeing
- Services to report concerns about an employer or workplace practices
- Signposting to support for those affected by abuse, exploitation, crime, or harmful behaviour
It is designed to provide quick access to help, advice, and action.
West Midlands Anti-Slavery Network
West Midlands Anti-Slavery Network brings together partner organisations to combat modern slavery, human trafficking, and exploitation. Through direct victim support, identifying gaps, influencing change, and facilitating solutions, we strive to protect and advocate for the vulnerable in our community.
Ensuring Compliance with Overseas Workers Employments Rights & Safety
West Midlands Employers have published a new guide, in partnership with WM-ADASS, for care providers across the West Midlands: ‘Modern Day slavery: Ensuring Compliance with Overseas workers Employment Rights and Safety.’
Sandwell Anti – Slavery Partnership Responding to Modern slavery in the care sector
New Immigration Rules – April 2025
The new immigration rules came into effect on 9 April 2025.
Changes to the Skilled Worker Route Home Office FAQs
There have been several questions raised around the immigration rule changes. To avoid any confusion and for clarity the Home Office has put together some FAQs on the 9th April immigration rules changes.
Changes to the Skilled Worker Route Home Office Presentation
Access the Home Office presentation, from a webinar in April 2025, focusing on the new requirements and support for care workers and senior care workers based entirely in England.
New Immigration Rules – April 2025
On the 1st July 2025, the Home Office published a major Statement of Changes to the Immigration Rules (HC 997), which marks the start of the implementation of the immigration reforms set out in the Government’s Immigration White Paper, published in May 2025.
These changes will take effect from 22 July 2025, and include important updates for the adult social care sector, particularly around international recruitment and in-country visa switching.
The Statement of Changes to the Immigration Rules (HC997) can be accessed below.
Department of Health and Social Care
- Code of Practice for the international recruitment of health and social care personnel in England
- International recruitment fund for the adult social care sector 2024 to 2025: guidance for local authorities.
- International recruitment regional fund for the adult social care sector 2025 to 2026: guidance for regional partnerships
- Guidance from the Department of Health and Social Care for prospective international applicants for health and social care jobs in the UK.