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Care Worker

Eligibility: ANM, GNM, BSc Nursing, MSc Nursing

English Language Proficiency Test: UKVI IELTS 5.5 and above/UK NARIC C1 and UKVI PTE

Visa type: Skilled Worker

Nurses are an essential part of the healthcare team. They work with patients who are ill or injured or who have problems due to age or disability. As well as providing care for patients and supporting their treatment and recovery, nurses give support and advice to patients' families and carers. They also promote good health.

To practice as a nurse in the UK you must be registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council. 

Registration Guidelines
In order to work as a Registered Nurse in the United Kingdom, the Nursing & Midwifery Council 
(NMC) checks and verifies if the applicant is capable of practicing safely and effectively in the UK as a nurse or a midwife, and they assess the applicant’s qualification, training, and experience against their standards. We offer you support with NMC registration.  
If you have completed a pre-registration nursing qualification in your country of training and are applying to the nursing part of the NMC register you can choose which field of nursing to apply to.
 NMC register consists of three parts.
  • Nurses 
  • Midwives
  • Specialist community public health nurses (SCPHN).
The nurse part of the register is divided into four fields of practice.
  • Adult nursing   
  • Mental health nursing       
  • Learning disabilities nursing
  • Children’s nursing.
You can apply to be on the nurse's or midwives' parts of the register, as long as you meet NMC standards. If you’ve trained as a general nurse, you should apply for registration with NMC as an adult nurse. If you want to register on more than one part of the register or field of practice, you should apply for each part/field at the same time. Once you’re registered, you can work in the National Health Service (NHS) or private health care.

NMC Requirements
Education
Applicant must have successfully completed at least 10 years of school education before starting a post-secondary education nursing or midwifery training program
(GNM/Post basic/BSc or MSc in nursing).
English Proficiency
International English Testing System (IELTS)
Applicants must be able to show they can communicate clearly and effectively in English by undertaking the International English Language Test (IELTS) with a score of 7.0. NMC will verify the scores with the IELTS organization.
Combining IELTS Test Scores
You can achieve the required mark across two test sittings if:
  • You sit the tests within six months of each other
  • You’re tested in all four sections at the same time
  • All scores in both sittings are above 6.5, and
  • You achieve at least 6.5 in the writing section and at least 7 in the reading, listening and speaking sections in either of the two test sittings.

Combined IELTS Scores: Example 1 of an Accepted Result

This combination would be accepted. The applicant has scored at least 7 in the listening, speaking, and reading sections and at least 6.5 in the writing section in either of the two test sittings and no score is lower than 6.5.

Occupational English Test (OET)
  • At least a grade C+ in the writing section 
  • At least a grade B in the reading, listening and speaking sections.
Combining OET Test Scores
You can achieve the required mark across two test sittings if:
  • You sit the tests within six months of each other
  • You’re tested in all four sections at the same time
  • All grades in both sittings are above Grade C+, and
  • You achieve at least a grade C+ in the writing section and at least a grade B in the reading, listening, and speaking sections in either of the two test sittings.

Combined OET scores: Example 2 of an Accepted Result

The applicant has scored at least a grade B in the listening, speaking, and reading sections and at least a grade C+ in the writing section in either of the two test sittings and no score is lower than grade C+.

Combined OET Scores: Example 1 of a Not Accepted Result

This application would not be accepted. The applicant has scored lower than grade C+.

Test of Competence
NMC uses the Test of Competence (ToC) to assess the skills and knowledge of people wanting to join their register from overseas from August 2021.
NMC conducts two tests of competence (TOC)
1. CBT (The Computer-Based Test)
CBT is a multiple-choice test and can be taken at any of the Pearson VUE test centres available in most countries around the world. Candidates will be given a short tutorial on how to use the computer before starting the examination. The CBT comprises 120 multiple-choice questions. All questions are scored as correct or incorrect and there is no partial credit. The time limit for direct testing is four hours and this includes any breaks from testing, which are optional. To be successful in CBT an applicant should qualify for the test with 68%.
The computer-based test (CBT) will be split into two parts - Part A will cover numeracy and Part B will cover nursing or midwifery theory.

2. OSCE (Objective Structured Clinical Examination)
It is the second test of competence conducted by NMC UK, where the examiners are putting the nurses to rigorous scrutiny to test their practical ability covering every aspect of their core field (Nursing). Most of the NHS trust hospitals in the UK would have dedicated OSCE training divisions with ample amenities like simulators, lab, mannequins, and instruments almost replicating an OSCE test centre, to enable the nurses to learn and practice and acclimatize about the test.
Employers will also have training facilities to ensure every Pre-registered nurse is clear and confident to appear in the OSCE. They will also have a syllabus & a pre-planned curriculum typically focusing on the OSCE preparations.
The objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) will have 10 stations:
  • Four stations will continue to be linked together around a scenario: the APIE (one station for assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation)
  • Four stations will test skills - two pairs of two skills
  • Two new stations will be introduced - one will assess the candidate's values and behaviours and the other will assess evidence-based practice.
New OSCE marking criteria - each station will be assessed against an updated list of relevant criteria.
OSCE Exam Centres in the UK
  • Oxford Brookes University.
  • The University of Northampton.
  • Ulster University, Northern Ireland.
  • Northumbria University
  • Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
TOC Preparation Materials
  • Webinar recordings
  • Candidate information booklets
  • Test blueprints
  • CBT and OSCE materials
All aforementioned materials are available,  please click here

NMC Registration
Applicants must complete an online self-assessment of their eligibility to apply before beginning the application process. You can do it yourself by registering online or nominating an individual, agency representative or employer to have this access.
Fee Structure of NMC Registration
The total cost of fees and tests is £1,170. This includes the cost of the CBT and OSCE if you need to take the Test of Competence. These costs could be higher if you need to resit tests.
A non-refundable qualification evaluation fee paid to NMC on submission of eligibility and qualification application - £140.00
Computer-based test (CBT) cost paid to the provider before exam - £83.00
Objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) cost paid to the provider before exam - £794.00
Registration fee paid to NMC on submission of registration application - £153.00

Job Opportunities
There are 1257 hospitals including the NHS Trust-managed hospitals and the additional private hospitals that are currently in use. Around 670,000 nurses in the UK. The majority are employed by the NHS. There are also opportunities:
  • In private healthcare.
  • With nursing agencies.
  • With private nursing and residential homes.
  • With charities and voluntary organisations.
  • In the pharmaceutical industry.
  • With the Prison Service.
  • In the Armed Forces.
  • In schools and universities.
  • In the occupational health departments of large organisations
  • On cruise ships.
Pay Scale

Your Long Term Prospects
  • With experience and further training, there are good opportunities for promotion and specialization.
  • Nurses may apply for leadership roles with wider responsibilities, such as sister, charge nurse, or nurse consultant, or move into nurse management or general NHS management.
  • They can take further specialist training in order to work in areas such as diabetes, pain management, operating theatres or to become health visitors, district nurses, or occupational health nurses. 
  • With additional training, they may move into teaching or research.


NMC - Click Here

OET - Click Here

IELTS - Click Here


Senior Care Workers

Eligibility: ANM, GNM, BSc Nursing, MSc Nursing

English Language Proficiency Test: UKVI IELTS 5.5 and above/UK NARIC C1 and UKVI PTE

Visa type: Skilled Worker

Even though Health and Social care service providers are regulated by CQC (Care Quality Commission), to work as a senior care worker no registration required but you must prove your efficiency to your sponsor. 

Suitable For Whom?

It is a good option for those candidates who have not succeeded in achieving the required score in IELTS to get registered with NMC.

Qualification
  • Completion of Paramedical/BSc/GNM/ANM nursing qualification
English Language Proficiency Evidence
  • You must prove you can read, write, speak and understand English to at least level B1 on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) scale.
  • Having a degree-level academic qualification that was taught in English - if you studied abroad, you’ll need to apply through Ecctis (formerly UK NARIC) for confirmation that your qualification is equivalent to a UK bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, or PhD
Job Opportunities

NHS and privately owned hospitals, nursing homes, residential homes, health centres, and GP surgery

Job Summary

Healthcare Assistant to become a part of the facility’s compassionate care-giving team and to be a vital link between patients, the nurses and other facility staff.

Senior Care Worker Responsibilities
  • Assist with daily living activities. This includes delivering meals to patients, turning and ambulating patients and providing plenty of fresh water, as well as extra nourishment between meals
  • Help patients with personal hygiene. Provide patients with bedpans, help with baths, shampoos and showers
  • Provide adjunct care for the patient, including ice packs, non-sterile dressings and therapeutic baths
  • Check vital signs and record daily information in the patient’s chart
  • Assist the nurses and other staff as needed
  • Adhere to professional standards, follow policies and procedures and abide by government regulatory requirements, as well as Nursing standards
  • Supervise or guide the healthcare support worker.
Pay Scale

£17,000 - £27,000 per annum

Where It Could Lead...

After working for a period in a nursing home, individuals can request a letter from their employer demonstrating their language skills, potentially allowing them to be exempted from taking the IELTS/OET exams. Furthermore, professionals dedicated to their roles and confident in their English proficiency might be eligible to transition into positions that meet NHS standards within just six months of their arrival. This emphasizes the rapid opportunities available to those ready to meet the necessary qualifications.


IELTS - Click Here


Support Workers

Eligibility: MSW, BSW

English Language Proficiency Test: UKVI IELTS 6 and above/UK NARIC C1 and UKVI PTE

Visa type: Skilled Worker

Social Workers are a regulated profession. All Social Workers must be registered with Social Work England and renew their registration on an annual basis.

SWE Requirements

If you qualified outside the UK, the following registration requirements must be met:

  • Bachelors’ or Masters’ degree in Social Work 
  • Evidence of English language proficiency
English Proficiency

There are four ways you can demonstrate English language proficiency:

1. Certificate of International English Language Testing System (IELTS); to accept an international English language testing system (IELTS) qualification, your certificate must show:

  • You took the academic version of the test
  • You achieved an overall score of at least 7.0
  • You received your IELTS qualification within the last five years
  • The original stamp and test report form number

2. A UK social work qualification recognised by Social Work England, provided it was awarded within the last five years.

3. A Social work qualification gained outside of the UK, in a country where English is the first and native language, provided it was awarded within the last 5 years

4. If you have been registered and practising as a social worker in a country where English is the first and native language; to qualify, you must have been registered and practising as a social worker for at least one year within the last five years, and an English language assessment must have been required for registration.

SWE Registration

You will need to provide the following as evidence of your qualification:

  • Your certificate
  • The name and address of your course provider
  • The name and address of the awarding body
  • A full transcript showing all the modules you studied

Your certificate must show the date your qualification was awarded. If it doesn’t, you will need a letter from your institution confirming this date. We may contact your course provider to gather information about the areas you covered throughout your studies.

Verify Your Identity

If you don’t live in the UK, you will need to provide documents that prove your identity and address, for example, your passport and a utility bill dated within the last 3 months. SWE will ask you for these documents after you’ve submitted your application.

Scrutiny Fee

As an overseas professional applying to join the register, you need to pay a non-refundable scrutiny fee of £495. SWE will ask you to pay this fee at the end of your application. You can pay the fee online, securely through GOV.UK Pay. If you are not able to pay online, you will have the option to pay via bank transfer.

SWE will not be able to consider your application without this payment. Once SWE have received payment, SWE will be able to check and verify your documents. SWE may also need to contact education providers, any relevant regulatory bodies and previous employers.

Registration Fee

If your application is successful, you will also need to pay a registration fee of £90.

When your registration fees are due, SWE will let you know via your online account. Registration fees must be paid within 14 calendar days. If you don’t pay your registration fees within 14 calendar days, SWE will close your application.

If you still want to practise as a social worker in England, you will need to make a new application to join the register.

Job Opportunities

Social Workers are employed by:

  • Social service departments of local authorities
  • Primary care or health service trusts
  • Private and NHS Hospitals
  • Children's home
  • Voluntary and independent agencies

With experience, you may be able to work independently as a self-employed or freelancer or even set up your own company.

In England there are increasing numbers of social workers operating as independent practitioners and social enterprises are taking over social services in some areas. 

Pay Scale

Depending on the local authority and location, experience and area of work, salaries may vary.

Newly qualified social workers can expect around £25,000 and can rise up to over £40,000 per annum as they gain experience and responsibility.

Where it could lead…

For candidates from abroad lacking UK work experience, securing an interview with a UK employer, even with registration with the Social Workers of England (SWE), can be challenging. However, the current situation offers a valuable opportunity. By arriving in the UK on a skilled worker visa, individuals can gain the necessary work experience, enhance their English language proficiency, and complement their SWE registration. Subsequently, they become eligible to apply for interviews with public or private companies for roles in social work. This pathway presents a golden opportunity for those seeking to establish themselves in the UK social work sector. Furthermore, it's worth noting that individuals will be eligible for permanent residency from the day of their arrival, providing added stability and long-term prospects in the country.


IELTS - Click Here


Physiotherapist
To practice as a physiotherapist in England, Scotland and Wales, you must be registered with the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC). 

HCPC Requirements
Qualification
To register with the HCPC, you first need to successfully complete an approved degree level qualification in physiotherapy. 

English Proficiency
Applicants whose first language is not English and who are required to provide a language test certificate as evidence of their proficiency must ensure that it is, or is comparable to, IELTS level 7.0 with no element below 6.5.

HCPC Registration
Documents required
  • Submit application forms and scrutiny fee £495.00
  • A copy of your certified ID
  • A copy of your certified proof of address 
  • Certified proof of any name change (if applicable) 
  • A passport size photo 
  • A certified copy of your relevant qualification certificate and an official translation (where applicable) 
  • The original and the certified translation of the Course information form 
  • At least one completed form relating to your professional experience with contact details for your supervisor (while studying or since graduating
Time Scale: The whole process can take approximately 60 working days from receipt of your complete application.

Registration Fee: If your application is successful, £180 covering your 2 years membership fee which has to be paid at the end of the registration process (HCPC will contact you directly for this payment).

Job Opportunities
Mainly NHS and private hospitals. Government investment in the Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) program means more people with anxiety and depression are being offered talking therapies through the NHS. As a result, the number of career opportunities is increasing for psychological wellbeing practitioners and high-intensity psychotherapists who practice cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). Full- and part-time jobs may be available in schools, colleges, prisons, the NHS, and the voluntary sector and with large employers. However, there are more part-time than full-time jobs, so psychotherapists may combine their counseling work with other roles.

Pay Scale
Salaries for newly qualified physiotherapists in the NHS start from £20,225 a year.

Where it could lead…

The current scenario presents a golden opportunity for individuals with Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) registration to capitalize on this opening and move to the UK on a work permit. This transition not only allows for the application of professional skills in a new setting but also offers a chance to engage with native speakers regularly. Such interactions are invaluable for demonstrating one’s abilities and improving language proficiency, facilitating a smoother integration into the registered profession within the UK healthcare system.


Paramedical

Paramedical staff are vital contributors to the healthcare sector, tasked with a wide range of clinical duties under the guidance of doctors and nurses in various environments, including hospitals, clinics, ambulances, and community health centres. Their role demands a versatile skill set, including the execution of medical procedures, outstanding communication for effective patient and team interactions, and the demonstration of empathy and compassion towards patients from diverse backgrounds. They are required to have excellent problem-solving abilities, particularly in critical situations, maintain robust physical stamina to cope with long hours and physical tasks, such as moving patients or equipment, and the ability to work seamlessly within a multidisciplinary healthcare team. 

Effective from March 11, 2024, will see Care Workers and Senior Care Workers (SOC 6145 and 6146) unable to include dependents in their UK visa applications, marking a significant policy shift.

For paramedical staff with Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) registration, this presents an advantageous opportunity to utilize their qualifications and secure employment in the UK. Moving to the UK on a work permit not only allows them to apply their professional skills in a new environment but also provides opportunities for regular interaction with native speakers, aiding in language proficiency improvement. These interactions are crucial for showcasing abilities and facilitating a smoother integration into the registered profession within the UK healthcare system.

Most of the health care courses are service-oriented. People who care for other’s health and lifespan choose the healthcare industry. We, Espanovus, create and find opportunities in the healthcare industry for nurses, physiotherapists, social workers and paramedical. We help the healthcare warriors to find a job in the United Kingdom, the dream country.

In the heart of the UK's vibrant fisheries industry, offering a sea of opportunities for fish processors. Our mission is to navigate the vast waters of career possibilities, connecting dedicated individuals with their dream roles in the fisheries industry. Espanovus is your trusted partner in charting a course toward a fulfilling career in this essential and thriving sector.

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