This page provides a collection of national resources and guidance to support your international nurses.
25 March 2022
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Nurses arriving to the UK from across the globe are faced with the challenge of adapting to working in the NHS and adjusting to a new culture. This guidance has been brought together by NHS England and NHS Improvement.
Welcome to all our international nurses.
You are key to the NHS workforce and we’re honoured to have you as part of the NHS family.
We recognise that coming into a new country is daunting and it can be difficult at times to know where to go for information. Here you will find some information to help you in your role.
Please be reassured that although we are in the middle of a pandemic, your health, wellbeing and safety at work is a priority. Alongside national guidance, your trust will have implemented a range of training, support and safeguarding to protect your health and wellbeing.
This continues to be a very challenging time, and we recognise and thank you for your commitment, and value your contribution to keeping our patients safe.
To all my international colleagues who come from right across the globe, I want to say thank you for joining us and for all that you do.
Ruth May, Chief Nursing Officer for England.
Travelling to the UK
For the latest advice on travel to the UK and COVID-19 testing please visit the link below. This page tells you what you must do before you travel to England and after you arrive.
What you must do depends on whether you qualify as fully vaccinated under the rules for travel to England. Information is also available to help youcheck if you qualify as fully vaccinated.
COVID-19 vaccination
Frontline health and care staff, including nurses, are encouraged to receive a COVID-19 vaccination. If you are not yet vaccinated, speak to your human resources (HR) team for support.
There are many training and development opportunities for nurses within the NHS. Once you have completed your Objective Standard Clinical Examination (OSCE) you can access training via your trust’s learning and development department.
For advice about health and wellbeing services available at your trust or in your local area, speak to your line manager, occupational health or human resources (HR) department. You should receive this information as part of your local induction. Please refer to your trust’s health and wellbeing guidance.
The Cavell Nurses Trust helps nurses, midwives and healthcare assistants, both working and retired, when they’re suffering personal or financial hardship. This is often due to illness, disability, older age, domestic abuse and the impact of COVID-19.
Staff support networks
There may be networks in your trust or your local community which provide support around disability, religion (including chaplaincy services), ethnicity (including ethnic minority staff networks). You should receive this information as part of your induction, or ask your line manager to connect you with these groups. You may also want to connect with other nurses and nursing groups outside your trust. Twitter and Facebook groups can be a good place to network and share learning.
@teamCNO on Twitter supports and informs nursing, midwifery and care staff.
@WeNurse on Twitter connects nurses to share information, ideas, knowledge and support.
You can find a list of international nursing associations at the end of this guide.
Risk assessment
Employers have a legal duty of care to protect their staff from harm, injury and illness, and to carry out assessments to measure the level of risk to their workforce. You will be asked to take part in a workforce risk assessment process.
You’ll have opportunities to talk to your line manager or occupational health team about any concerns or anxiety you may have, and they will work with you to ensure you are supported to work safely. Please refer to your trust’s guidance on risk assessments.
Redeployment
At times in the NHS, including during the COVID-19 pandemic, some redeployment has been required. It’s important that nurses, midwives and healthcare professionals work together and flexibly to provide care and skills where they are most needed. If you are asked to volunteer to redeploy to another ward, department or role, talk to your line manager or team leader about any concerns you may have, and to find out what training, if required, will be provided.
During induction at your new trust, you will be provided with information about training for, and taking, your OSCE. You will be supported throughout the process by a member of the OSCE team at your trust.
All three OSCE test centres remain open, and the new Northumbria University location in Newcastle is now open for bookings. The Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust location will open in spring 2022.
All OSCE candidates are strongly encouraged to carry out COVID-19 lateral flow tests before travelling to the OSCE test centres. You must not travel if you feel unwell or have a positive or inconclusive COVID-19 test result. Test centres will reschedule free of charge. Candidates are also strongly encouraged to wear face masks when attending the OSCE test centres.
Flexible working arrangements help create a healthy work-life balance for employees and their families. The NHS recognises the benefits of flexible working, which include recruiting and retaining the best staff and reducing absenteeism and work-related stress.
Some of the flexible working options that could be available to you include:
part-time working
flexi-time
compressed hours
job-share
term-time working
career breaks
working from home
annualised hours.
All NHS employees in England and Wales have the right to request flexible working from day one of their employment and make more than one request per year.
If you would like to work flexibly when you arrive in the UK, ask your recruitment representative at the trust you are joining about how to do this.
Usually your line manager will be your first point of contact, but if you don’t feel you can speak up to them or use other formal routes, you should refer to your local Freedom To Speak Up Guardian, who will be able to offer guidance and support. You can also speak to a union representative (see support from trade unions section).
Support from trade unions
Trade unions for healthcare workers can support you in lots of ways, including providing access to legal services, immigration advice and other professional services. Contact your local union representatives to find more about the benefits of joining a union.
The NHS is committed to inclusion, and values the diversity of all cultures. It is important you can connect with people who understand your culture, mindset and your journey and lived experience. We work with the following international nursing associations.
Association Isabel Zendal: Association of Spanish Nurses and Health Workers in the UK CIC
