Department of Health & Social Care (DHSC) international recruitment funding has been made available for a Small Grants Programme across the West Midlands.
This is now in place to enable local international recruitment support initiatives to be undertaken by West Midlands councils and care providers in the following areas:
- Support for international recruits who have lost their job due to their employers’ sponsorship licence being revoked.
- Training and development
- Pastoral support & buddying schemes
The small grants projects have all been developed and tested to ensure they meet the conditions of the DHSC grant as well as meeting local needs and that they build upon existing learning.
Buddying scheme for international recruits
International Recruitment has a different set of challenges compared to recruiting from within the UK, particularly in ensuring that the new recruits feel welcomed and are able to access pastoral support.
West Midlands Care Association (WMCA) is supporting buddying activities for international recruits within Adult Social Care provider organisations.
This scheme is available to care providers who are:
- CQC registered
- have a sponsorship licence
- have international recruits
- are located within the flocal authority areas of Birmingham, Dudley, Herefordshire, Sandwell, Walsall, Wolverhampton, Worcestershire
Providers meeting these conditions will be able to apply for a small cash grant to support buddying activities.
Further information at https://www.wmca.care/recruitment/international/resources
Other Small Grants Programme projects
The following projects have also been developed under the Small Grants Programme between other West Midlands councils and their care associations:
Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent: pastoral support and culturally sensitive and formal training.
Shropshire and Telfors & Wrekin: support for displaced international recruits due to sponsor licence revocation. A collaboration with Partners in Care Association (SPIC) and Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB)
Coventry and Warwickshire: support for displaced international recruits due to sponsor licence revocation & to support refugee employment into adult social care
Solihull: pastoral care and learning and development resources for international recruits
Herefordshire: training and support for adult social care providers on international recruitment
Free DBS checks for international recruits
These are being offered by West Midlands Care Association (WMCA). Any new DBS searches for international recruits on their DBS system that meet the criteria will be free of charge.
Further information at: https://www.wmca.care/recruitment/international/resources/dbs
To find out more about any of the Small Grants Projects please contact intlrecruitmentinfo@wm-adass.org.uk.
For more information about the International Recruitment West Midlands Region please see:- https://irwestmids.co.uk/