Support for displaced international care workforce recruits

Discover essential support and resources for displaced international care workforce recruits, ensuring you have the guidance needed to navigate your employment situation.

What happens next

If the revocation is upheld, you will receive a second letter from UKVI one month later.

This letter will tell you that your Certificate of Sponsorship has been cancelled. You will then have 60 days to find new employment.

Available support

If you need further information after you receive your letter, call the UKVI Contact Centre on 0300 790 6268 and choose option 2.

Lines are open:

Monday to Thursday (excluding bank holidays), 9am to 4.45pm
Friday (excluding bank holidays), 9am to 4.30pm

The Department for Health and Social Care have produced guidance to help international recruits looking for jobs in the UK's social care sector.

This guidance includes information about:

how to avoid scams (being taken advantage of)
spotting signs of exploitation
funding further support

Local support

The Berkshire Care Association and SESCA - Website for the South East Social Care Alliance provide local information for international employees in Berkshire and the South East. The 'Support offer to international ASC workers whose employer's sponsor licence has been revoked' page on GOV.UK may also have useful information about support available to you.

Help to understand your rights

The organisations listed below can help you to understand your rights:

Citizens Advice provide free, independent, legal advice - you can also call their Adviceline (England) on 0800 144 8848
- they have guidance and advice for those on a Health and Care Visa, including advice on when a carer loses their job
Law Centres are able to provide free legal advice - they help people get justice, even if they cannot afford a lawyer
GOV.UK's Adviser Finder has a list of regulated immigration advisers - this includes details of advisers who do not charge fees
Justice and Care are a charity working with victims of slavery and human trafficking - they have developed guidance for international workers in the care sector (including details of employment rights, information on labour exploitation, and how to report concerns)

Other organisations

Support, help and advice is available from trade unions, Diaspora groups and other organisations. You can find a list of organisations on GOV.UK.

Employment rights

You may want to raise concerns if you feel you:

have been underpaid or not received money for hours worked
had money taken away from your pay
have a contractual repayment clause in your contract

ACAS provides free, impartial advice to employees on workplace rights and rules. They can also help with dispute resolution. You can get advice from the ACAS website or call their helpline on 0300 123 1100. The helpline is open Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm.

Care workers can join a trade union. Unions provide advice on employment rights and support with grievances or concerns with employers. GOV.UK provides a list of organisations that can support you during your employment.

Support to access benefits

You may be able to access some benefits if you qualify.

The No Recourse to Public Funds Network have developed a tool to help work out when housing and financial support is available.

Our website has information about cost of living support, including help with money and access to food.

Support if you feel you have suffered abuse

Your employer could have taken advantage of you if you:

had wages withheld
had excessive deductions from wages
received pay below National Living Wage
were underpaid for hours worked
worked excessively long hours
were made to pay excessive fees or excessive repayment clauses
received threats to your immigration status if you failed to comply or refused to work extra hours
suffered physical abuse, harassment, or violence

If you are a victim of labour exploitation, call the Modern Slavery Helpline on 08000 121 700 or report abuse or exploitation online.

Help to search for a job

We have connections with two international employment businesses who may be able to help you:

They focus on the recruitment of displaced overseas workers in adult social care. Their specialist teams will help you find an alternative sponsor. They can also guide you through the employment process step by step.

You can use the Department of Health and Social Care's Adult Social Care website to find roles in your local area. The website also offers support on writing and updating CVs and advice on interviews.

You can find a register of licensed sponsor holders on GOV.UK.

Local adult social care provider recruitment pages

Check out these links to provider recruitment pages:

CV and interview support

There are charity and volunteer organisations across England that can support with:

clothing for interviews
preparation for interviews

Support available in each area will vary. You may need a referral from your local council or agency as well as proof of an interview.

The National Careers Service have online resources to support with:

writing CVs
preparing cover letters
completing applications
preparing for interviews

If you want to leave the UK

You may choose to leave the UK voluntarily. If you don't have the means to do this, you may be eligible for support from the Home Office to leave the UK.

If you are considering returning to your country of origin, get legal advice from an immigration adviser so you're clear about the implications.