Help for all sponsored workers in Adult Social Care
We predominantly provide help for people who are looking for a new sponsor in Adult Social Care.
A very warm welcome to the UK. The UK is a country with a diverse and multi-ethnic population, and we value the skills and experience that people bring to our country. People from all over the world have made this country their place of work and their home and we thank you for choosing to relocate here.
Thank you also for choosing to work in the Care Sector, enabling people to live happy, healthy and independent lives is a career that makes a difference to people and their families lives every day and in our local communities. The work you do is vital and rewarding with a responsibility to safeguard people.
We hope that everyone has a great experience of relocating to the UK but it can be complex getting to know a new country, working life and new laws to work within.
This guide is designed to help you know what your rights are, and signposts helpful information where you can go to gain more advice and support.
This guide will help you if you have problems with your job, your employer, accommodation or pay.
In addition to this help on this page, you might find it useful to read: Guidance-For-International-Workers-in-the-Care-Sector.pdf (justiceandcare.org)
Information and Links
General advice and help
You can find advice on staying safe and avoiding scams when searching for a social care job in the UK here
✔️ DO check that your agency is on the ‘ethical recruiters list’
✔️ DO get a contract describing the salary, hours, location, and any repayment clauses – make sure your employer sticks to the contract.
✔️ DO be aware of the signs of exploitation, including:
❌ receiving little to no payment
❌ being asked to repay large amounts of money
❌ working very long hours
❌ having no time off
✔️ DO NOT apply to jobs that seem too good to be true.
✔️ DO NOT pay money to an agency to find you work in the UK – this is against UK law.
✔️ DO NOT be forced or threatened into signing a contract.
✔️ DO NOT accept threats of deportation from your employer – understand your rights.
If you think you or a colleague are being taken advantage of, or you have witnessed illegal behaviour, report your concerns to get help from Acas on 0300 123 1100 or by calling the Modern Slavery Helpline on 0800 0121 700.
Your employment rights
This guidance is for people from overseas who may want to work in health and social care in the UK. It will help you to understand working rights and standards.
Further advice on your employment rights and other help you can get is available through Citizens Advice
Diaspora groups or associations are communities or networks of international health or care workers of the same nationality or culture. They can link you up with other international recruits from your home country and support you with your continuing professional development. You can find more details here.
Acas gives free, impartial advice on workplace rights and rules. They can also help with dispute resolution. Acas offers advice through its website or alternatively they can be contacted through their helpline 0300 123 1100 for confidential free advice on any work-related problem. The helpline is open Monday to Friday, 08:00 to 18:00.
Job searching and preparation
National Careers Service have online resources to support with writing CVs, preparing cover letters, completing applications, and preparing for interviews
Care workers can also speak to a careers adviser if they need support with writing a CV. Contact us
Your immigration status and legal advice
All queries relating to immigration status or visas should be referred to UK Visas and Immigration.
UK Visas and Immigration contact centre:
Telephone: 0300 790 6268 - select option 2
Monday to Thursday (excluding bank holidays), 9 am to 4:45 pm
Friday (excluding bank holidays), 9 am to 4:30 pm.
Free, independent, legal advice is available through Citizens Advice or contact Adviceline (England) on 0800 144 8848.
Free legal advice is also available through Law Centres
E visa
The Home Office are replacing physical immigration documents with a digital proof of immigration status which is called an eVisa. This is a key part of delivering a border and immigration system which will be ‘digital by default’ by 2025. You can read more information about this change and the benefits here http://www.gov.uk/evisa
Physical biometric residence permits are no longer issued after 31 October 2024. If you currently use a physical immigration document, such as a biometric residence permit (BRP), or legacy paper document such as a passport containing an ink stamp or a vignette sticker, you will now need to take action to create a UKVI account to access your eVisa.
Updating from a physical document to an eVisa does not affect your immigration status or the conditions of your permission to enter or stay in the UK. The service is free for you to access, please be aware of scams which are circulating and quoting a charge for this service. Do not use these services or pay money to anyone in relation to this. You should only be using the Government website shown below to create a UKVI account and access your eVisa.
Online immigration status (eVisa) - GOV.UK
If you feel you need help with setting up the UKVI account or understanding the changes, there is help available via the Home Office Support , link below:
A list of regulated immigration advisers is available and includes details of advisers who do not charge fees.
Housing, Financial and Food support
You can seek advice on your rights and tenancy agreement from Citizens Advice or Shelter Get help from Shelter - Shelter England.
International care workers are not usually able to access homelessness support through their local authority. Some exceptions may apply if there are dependent children in the household and the child is assessed as being in need; or if the adult is assessed as having care and support needs by social services. Contact your local authority for social services support in these circumstances.
Victims of human trafficking or modern slavery may also be entitled to homelessness assistance depending on their circumstances and immigration status. Your local authority should be contacted to confirm eligibility for support.
This tool may help you work out if further housing and financial support is available to you
Local authorities have welfare schemes to help with food, clothes, and bills. Each scheme has its own rules about who can get help. You can contact your local council to check if you are eligible.
A list of food banks is available through the Trussell Trust
Reporting concerns and potential exploitation
Reports of unethical and illegal employment practices are taken very seriously.
Examples include:
- working excessively long hours
- receiving little or no pay
- paying work finding fees
- unable to move jobs freely
- forced to work through fear, violence or coercion
- having your movements controlled
- not in possession of your own passport
If you believe you are a victim of labour exploitation you can call the Modern Slavery Helpline on 08000 121 700 or file a report online.
