As part of its continued commitment to supporting adult social care, Phase 2 of the West Midlands International Recruitment Programme aligns closely with the 2024/25 strategic priorities set by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and the West Midlands Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (WM-ADASS).
This phase will utilise funding from the DHSC to enhance existing services and introduce new initiatives to address the key challenges faced by:
- Care Providers: Registered care providers, particularly those with licensed sponsorships, will benefit from enhanced compliance support, HR guidance, and access to a pool of work-ready international recruits.
- International Recruits: Recruits impacted by employer sponsorship revocations will gain access to vital services, including job placement support, visa guidance, and platforms to report unethical practices.
In this phase the support model for is being built around five key elements:
- Central Support – delivered in partnership with UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI).
- Self-Service Support – enabling international recruits to access tailored resources and signposting to support, including employment, education, social care, training and housing, through AI-powered technology.
- Specialist HR and Legal Support – providing expert legal, policy, and HR guidance for both care providers and international recruits.
- Recruitment Facilitation and Support – focused on connecting displaced workers (international recruits who have been impacted by the revocation of their employer’s sponsor license) with employment opportunities across the region.
- Local Authority Support – including the distribution of small grants for local projects and additional funding for enhanced support offers through regional councils. Under the Minimum Support Offer each of the 14 West Midlands Local Authorities will receive £20,000 from the regional IR fund to implement core support activities:
- Facilitate the engagement of a nominated commissioner to act as first point of contact to receive notifications of suspensions and revocations of licences by UKVI.
- Participate in the WM-ADASS Regional International Recruitment (IR) Partner Steering Group to collaborate on IR Programme development.
- Work with local care providers to identify opportunities for local employment opportunities for displaced workers.
Under the Enhanced Support Offer Local Authorities have the opportunity to submit proposals to secure additional funding to deliver enhanced support offers, tailored to address local pressures.
A sixth element is Regional Coordination overseen by WM-ADASS, ensuring the integration of services, effective governance, and strategic alignment across the region.
How to Get Involved:
- Local Authorities: All local authorities across the West Midlands have appointed representatives to the WM-ADASS International Recruitment Partnership Steering Group.
- West Midlands CQC-Registered Providers: More information about the 2024-25 Internaional Recruitment Programme will be available when funding has been allocated. In the meantime, you can access support via the West Midlands IR Hub
Local Authorities and Care Providers are also entitled to free legal and HR support
- West Midlands International Adult Social Care Workers: UKVI will be contacting displaced international care workers directly with information on accessing support. You can also reach out via https://ai.myuk.life/wm/ – a digital hub offering personalised advice on visa requirements, housing, local community integration, and more.