Recruiting refugees

Introduction

Refugees bring resilience, dedication, and valuable skills to the NHS workforce. As an in-country, work-ready talent pool, they offer NHS organisations an effective way to strengthen teams, enrich patient care through diverse experiences, and support individuals in rebuilding their lives through meaningful employment. This hub guides NHS organisations through refugee employment rights, accessible recruitment pathways, and national and regional support and training programmes.

Understanding refugee employment rights

• An asylum seeker is someone who has fled their country, often abruptly, due to persecution, war, or violence, and cannot find protection there.
• Asylum seekers can undertake volunteering whilst their claim for asylum is being considered.
• Once an asylum seeker is granted asylum, they are legally recognised as a refugee and have the same right to work as UK nationals. Employers don’t need to sponsor work visas as refugees receive work authorisation directly from the UK government.
• Refugee status in the UK lasts for five years. After this period, all refugees can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain.
• Refugees bring diverse professional experience ranging from managers to nurses and allied health professionals and doctors.
• Refugees are highly motivated to work in their chosen fields and contribute positively to the workplace.
• Guidance for employers on preventing illegal working, asylum seekers and refugees can be found on the UK Visas and Immigration website.
• Our frequently asked questions web page provides more information on how to appoint refugees if they cannot display all the documents as required in the employment check standards.

Recruitment pathways

Support and training programmes

Case studies and good practice

NHS Employers has produced the following materials to support NHS trusts in employing refugee healthcare professionals.

• Find out how Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust used widening participation initiatives to help the local refugee and migrant population return to a career in healthcare.
• Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust worked with the charity Growing Points to help refugees and asylum seekers into work.
• Read this blog that describes how a dedicated recruitment project is helping refugees to find work in North West London.
• Watch this webinar focused on how North West London successfully recruited over 80 refugees through its refugee employment programme.
• Learn how Coventry and Warwickshire ICS introduced a number of different employability support channels to attract, recruit and retain local people. 

Next steps

• Explore the pathways: Review the sections relevant to your workforce needs—whether volunteering, entry-level roles, clinical professions, or region-specific programmes.
• Connect with partners: Reach out to local authorities, Jobcentre Plus, or refugee support organisations listed in this hub to build partnerships.
• Start small: Consider offering volunteering opportunities or clinical attachments to help refugees gain NHS experience.
• Check documentation guidance: Use the links provided to understand what documents refugees can use to prove their right to work.
• Share good practice: Learn from other NHS trusts that have successfully recruited and supported refugee staff—and consider sharing your own experiences.
• Contact us: Let us know how you are supporting people with refugee status to access employment opportunities in your organisation or region by emailing the workforce supply team.