International recruitment into adult social care
About the Project
Scottish Government, NES’s Centre for Workforce Supply (Social Care) team and COSLA are collaborating on a project, with a view to making recommendations for an accelerated, person-centred model of international recruitment in adult social care in Scotland.
This is a priority for the Scottish Government, who have initiated a pilot project, which aims to:
- collaborate with providers to test models of international recruitment of care workers and senior care workers, underpinned by robust pastoral support
- make recommendations for what a model of international recruitment should look like for social care in Scotland now and in the future
The project includes representative organisations from the local authority, private and charitable sectors. It also has a universal support offer for anyone in the adult social care sector in Scotland interested in undertaking international recruitment.
The universal support offer consists of:
- a LinkedIn Network, for discussion and sharing best practice
- an IR Toolkit for employers, using the Plan, Attract, Train, Employ, Nurture framework
Project Launch Webinar
NES Centre for Workforce Supply (Social Care) Team held the launch webinar on International Recruitment into Adult Social Care on 14 August 2023, watch the recording on Vimeo.
The LinkedIn Network
To support adult social care organisations in Scotland, the Centre for Workforce Supply (Social Care) team has a LinkedIn group (11) International Recruitment into Scottish Social Care | Groups | LinkedIn intended to be a new network of care providers and organisations currently undertaking or wishing to undertake international recruitment into adult social care in Scotland in the future.
This will serve as a platform for highlighting events, open resources, sharing best practices and a discussion forum for members.
Members will be able to post comments and ask questions about problems and issues that you may be facing, sharing our combined knowledge and experience.
Employers’ Toolkit
To support adult social care organisations considering undertaking international recruitment, NES’s Centre for Workforce Supply Social Care Team have developed an International Recruitment into Adult Social Care Employers Toolkit (office.com) to support providers with all the information they need to embed ethical and sustainable international recruitment practices within their organisation.
This resource uses the framework set out in the Scottish Government Health and Social Care Workforce Strategy of PLAN, ATTRACT, TRAIN, EMPLOY, NURTURE.
This resource is iterative and will continue to grow, with new information and tools being added as they become available. If there are tools or information you would like to see included, or you feel anything is missing, please contact nes.cwssocial@nhs.scot.
Webinar series
The Centre for Workforce Supply (Social Care) team will also be hosting monthly webinars on international recruitment into adult social care, covering a variety of topics, please look out for upcoming dates. You can register for the webinars through the project's LinkedIn group.
Katherine Stevenson, Head of Programme – Social Care, CWSS, NES said:
“The Centre for Workforce Supply (Social Care) is delighted to launch the International Recruitment into Adult Social Care Services in Scotland Universal Support Offer. It is designed to provide adult social care employers from all provider types, geographical areas, and types of service, all the information and assurance they need to undertake ethical and sustainable person-centred international recruitment.
“We hope it conveys how Scotland seeks to be a good global citizen, committed to promoting and protecting the global care workforce and ensuring that those who choose to work and live in Scotland will have the best possible experience, underpinned by pastoral support and career development opportunities; while also working to improve stability of the sector through offering one potential solution to recruitment and retention challenges felt acutely across all parts of the adult social care sector workforce.
"Scotland values our international recruits, and the programme highlights NES commitment to ethical recruitment, pastoral support and celebrating the success of those who have already made the move through sharing their stories.”
More Information
Please contact nes.cwssocial@nhs.scot
September, 27 2023