Our International Recruitment Project has achieved remarkable success so far. In less than six months, we’ve introduced a comprehensive range of tailored support measures to aid adult social care providers in the South East and ensure an ethical approach to their international recruitment endeavours.
In July, we conducted a seminar series across nine locations in the South East, led by four prominent immigration specialist firms. Currently, we’re hosting a series of follow-up webinars, including a specialized session focusing on Home Care, recognizing the unique challenges in this sector.
Our addition of an international recruitment hub on the SESCA website has garnered widespread acclaim, hailed as the most extensive source of online guidance available to social care providers in the region. Concurrently, our local Care Associations are in the process of incorporating guidance on their websites to highlight the local support available for new overseas recruits.
Our online resources and regular communications are the product of thorough research and collaborations with various organizations, including local authorities and NHS Trusts. This not only facilitates the sharing of best practices but also sets the stage for potential future partnerships.
Perhaps our most significant achievement is the approval of around 400 care providers to receive £1,500 grants to help fund their international recruitment efforts within a mere three months. This represents 8% of all care providers in the South East. The grant application process is ongoing and we hope to award many more providers over the next few months.
The Department of Health and Social Care has commended the progress of our international recruitment funding project, applauding our collaborative approach as pivotal in achieving successful project milestones.
Our Project Team remains deeply engaged in matters related to international recruitment, maintaining open channels to keep care providers well-informed. These updates address critical areas, such as concerns over modern slavery, changes in health and care worker visa regulations, and recent fee adjustments.
Equally important is the evaluation process, where we’ve engaged a leading consultancy to assess the impact on care providers and the effectiveness of our partnership efforts. As part of this initiative, we’re actively seeking input from providers to gain insights into the tangible outcomes and benefits resulting from the international recruitment grants.
This success is a testament to the dedication and collaboration of our team and partners, and we look forward to building on this momentum in the coming months.