If you are a Health and Care Worker visa holder and lose your job, it’s crucial to understand your rights and options.
This section provides an overview of essential resources and steps to take, including accessing legal and financial support, securing a new sponsor, and protecting yourself from exploitation.
SESCA is committed to supporting “displaced care workers”—overseas care workers in the South East who have lost their sponsorship due to their sponsor’s license being revoked—by connecting them with reputable care providers offering new sponsorship opportunities. Our work is spread across the south-east and we do not have a physical office, please contact us only via our email address.
If you are a displaced care worker living in the South East, please visit our Sponsorship Opportunities – Displaced Carers section.
If this does not apply to you, here are some resources to assist you in your job search.
A comprehensive list of licensed sponsor holders is available on the UK government website: Register of licensed sponsors: workers – GOV.UK.
For comprehensive job listings, visit:
For care sector-specific job listings, visit:
The following job boards list adult social care opportunities within specific counties across the Southeast:
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has published this guide to support affected workers, offering:
nsor’s license has been revoked.Citizens Advice Bureau provides free, independent legal advice. They have produced a helpful resource, Losing your job if you have a Health and Care Worker Visa, which covers the following:
If you have concerns about your employment rights and pay, including being underpaid or not receiving pay for hours worked, the following organizations may be able to help.
Sponsored work visa holders do not have recourse to public funds, however, you may be able to access some benefits if you meet qualifying requirements. The No Recourse to Public Funds Network has developed a tool to help work out when further housing and financial support is available for those with no recourse to public funds: Housing and support options for migrant families.
Local authorities have welfare schemes to help with food, clothes, and bills. Each scheme has its own rules about who can get help. Contact your local council to check if you are eligible.
Any queries relating to immigration status or visas should be referred to UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI).
If your accommodation was provided by your previous employer or sponsor, seek advice on your rights and tenancy agreement from Citizens Advice or Shelter.
International care workers are not usually able to access homelessness support through their local authority as they have no recourse to public funds. Some exceptions may apply if there are dependent children in the household or if the adult is assessed as having care and support needs by social services. Social services’ support is not classed as public funding for immigration purposes. Contact your local authority for support in these circumstances.
A list of food banks is available through the Trussell Trust: Find a Food Bank – The Trussell Trust.
Our Support for Overseas Workers section includes the details of many Community Support Groups, including PAWA a national association supporting African workers in the UK, offering advice, workplace representation, training, and referrals for displaced care workers.
In addition, we provide practical advice on employment, accommodation, financial assistance, and mental health support.
Registering with a recruitment agency can help you find a new job. Ensure the agency is listed on GOV.UK’s ethical recruiters list, which means they follow government recruitment rules around ethical international recruitment.
Two prominent agencies that operate ethically and provide comprehensive services specifically for care workers requiring visa sponsorship are SponsorSwitch and Get Borderless.
The gov.uk website provides advice on staying safe and avoiding scams when searching for a social care job in the UK. Key points include:
Some of these organizations may need a referral from a local authority or referring agency and proof of a job interview:
For further support please visit our Sponsored Carers – Further Support section, which offers valuable advice on living in the Southeast of England and working in the adult social care sector.