Resources for a career move to the UK
Considering a career move to the UK may be daunting. Here are the resources and guides to help make this process simpler and provide you with support.
To do list for international recruits:
- English Language
- VISA
- HCPC-registration
- Driving
- Making applications
- Understanding tax and salary
- Resources for joining the UK workforce
1. English language
This is the first element that requires completion: it has been seen to hold up applications and is an essential requirement for further stages, including gaining VISA and HCPC registration.
The HCPC English language requirements are currently under review: new requirements of proficiency are set to be released from September 2023.
The current HCPC guidance is:
Using the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) every international applicant must submit certification as part of their application to the HCPC with no score under 7.0, unlessthe applicant can prove they are a native English speaker with English being their first language. This is the preferable test. Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) certification with a minimum score of 100/120 is also discussed via the HCPC website.
See also:
- HCPC requirements for Certificate of English proficiency
- IELTS test
- Test of English as a foreign language (TOEFL) Internet based test
- Living the language is produced by HEE for nurses and health professionals as a guide for English language usage in work and life.
2. VISA
You will need to apply for a Health and Care Worker visa once you are successful in a job application. You must have a confirmed job offer before you apply for your visa. Your employer will need to provide a certificate of sponsorship.
Health and care worker visa
This is the general route for skilled workers to enter the UK for permanent employment. NHS organisations can sponsor health professionals from outside the EEA and Switzerland.
To apply visit: https://www.gov.uk/health-care-worker-visa/apply-from-outside-the-uk
For those who are have not been successful with a job application, there are alternative routes for obtaining a visa which are discussed below.
The documents you will need are
- Your certificate of sponsorship reference number - your employer will give you this
- Proof of your English language status
- Avalid passport or other document that shows your identity and nationality
- Your job title and annual salary
- Your job’s occupation code
- The name of your employer and their sponsor licence number - this will be on your certificate of sponsorship
If you are from certain countries, you may also need to provide evidence of Tuberculosis test results. If your VISA application includes partner and/or dependents you will find further information here.
https://www.gov.uk/tb-test-visa/countries-where-you-need-a-tb-test-to-enter-the-uk
https://www.gov.uk/health-care-worker-visa/your-partner-and-children
If you have not accepted a job in the UK you can apply for alternative VISAs. You must also do this if you are from:
- an area outside of the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland, and /or
- you are looking at the locum options.
Tier 5 UK VISA
For locums, the Youth Mobility Scheme is generally the preferred visa option. It allows you to stay to work for 24 months if you meet the criteria:
- Between 18-30 years age
- From several accepted countries (Australia, Canada, Japan, Monaco, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Taiwan)
https://www.gov.uk/government-authorised-exchange
UK Ancestry VISA
If you have connections in the UK as specified in the criteria, such as a UK-based grandparent, it will allow you to stay for up to five years.
https://www.gov.uk/ancestry-visa
VISA fees
Visa fees will vary depending on how long you apply for. Under the Health and Care Worker visa, once your visa has been approved, you will have three months to move to the UK. You must be able to show that you can support yourself in the UK.
Health and Care Worker visa: https://www.gov.uk/health-care-worker-visa/how-much-it-costs
3. HCPC Registration
The Department of Health and Social Care states that all registered healthcare professionals working in the UK must be registered with a professional regulatory body. The professional regulatory body in the UK for podiatrists is the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). The title "podiatrist" is legally protected: therefore you cannot describe yourself as a podiatrist in the UK unless you are registered with the HCPC.
Find out more here about the role of the HCPC
In podiatry there are 15 Standard of Proficiency that need to be demonstrated to enable registration with the HCPC. The standards are to be maintained through registration.
- Find out more here
- Download the standards here
- Download the International applications guidance to check your eligibility, find out what documents you need to prepare and begin your application for HCPC registration
It is recommended that you familiarise yourself with the HCPC and its Standards for Proficiency prior to any application.
4. Driving
Some application criteria stipulate that a driving licence is required. This is more likely in rural areas than in inner cities which have great public transport options and may not require driving as essential criteria.
Government guidance for applying or transferring driving licence can be found here
If you are being recruited and have a EU driving licence
You can drive in the UK on a full, valid driving licence from an EU country until you are 70.
An EU driving licence can be transferred via the gov.uk website https://www.gov.uk/exchange-foreign-driving-licence
If you are being recruited and have a driving licence from outside the EU
You cannot exchange your driving licence but you are permitted to drive for 12 months under current licence from the date of arrival. A UK re-test, including applying for a provisional licence, a theory test and a practical driving test, will be required beyond that period.
Car schemes
Some NHS trusts and locum agencies offer incentives to support transport provision. This may be a lease car scheme, pool cars (a provision of cars to be shared amongst colleagues) or initial assistance in car purchase (i.e. payment contributions in the first months). This will be very individual to the trust or agency you are being recruited too.
5. Making the application
Curriculum vitae (CV)
CVs are short written summaries of a person’s career, qualifications, and education. It is a summary of your attributes and qualities enabling you to showcase your skills to potential employers.
CVs are useful to share with employment agencies; some agencies will request that CVs be accompanied by applications or covering letters: be sure to send exactly what is being asked for. There is a difference: applications are forms for completion; covering letters are signed letters introducing yourself and your interest.
There are various resources available to help you create a CV; templates are readily available for downloading free of charge online:
See also:
- NHS Business Services Authority: Help and support for applicants
- Indeed: Medical cover letter: What to include and how to write one
Interviews
Agencies and NHS may use a variety of platforms for interviewing. These include virtual platforms such as Skype, Teams or Facetime; alternatively a telephone or a face-to-face interview may be carried out. See:
Locum agencies
There are various locum agencies that hold vacancies for both the NHS and the private sector. The NHS in the UK has an excess of recruitment opportunities. Locum agencies are a great way of exploring different sectors and areas of the UK but do require a valid visa to enable you to register.
NHS Professionals
NHS Professionals is a leading provider of flexible workforce services to the NHS with more than 130,000 healthcare professionals registered as bank, across more than 50 NHS Trusts.
Registration requirements:
- Degree or diploma in podiatry and registered within your country
- HCPC registration before coming to the UK
- 6-12 months’ experience in podiatry in another country.
Visit NHS Professionals here
Direct applications for NHS jobs
A full resource is available for the NHS jobs service with step-by-step information for uploading your information to the NHS jobs service application site.
Visit NHS Jobs: Help and support for applicants
Looking for vacancies in independent practice
Search engines and the internet will retrieve plenty of job opportunities for podiatrists in the UK.
RCPod also has a resource for advertising vacancies: see Situations vacant.
6. Understanding tax and salary
Employment in the UK
Podiatrists can be self-employed, employed or both in the UK. In both instances in the UK we pay income tax and national insurance. Money raised from taxes funds essential products such as schools, healthcare etc. National insurances pays towards state benefits such as pensions: you will need to apply for a national insurance number.
Find our how to apply for an national insurance number here
Self-employed means you work for yourself as a sole trader; youwill need to notify the HMRC of this. It will also means that you have to complete an annual self-assessment to calculate your tax liability.
Further information on this can be found here
Being employed generally brings with it a fixed monthly income and with the benefits of holiday pay and other employee benefits which will be specific to the organisation.
NHS salary
Podiatrists working for the NHS are usually under the Agenda for Change pay scale which is a national framework for all NHS employees. Each NHS job has a band 1-9 indicating which pay scale you will progress through while in your role. See the pay scales here.
Income from independent practice can either be salaried - as an employee - or a fee-share structure could be in place. For the latter you will have to register as self-employed: youtake a percentage of your fees as your income and the rest remains with the clinic.
Additional NHS benefits
These benefits will vary within each NHS trust and will be listed within the Trust employment information resources. Employment packages can include other benefits, such as staff accommodation and salary exchange programmes, sometimes known as salary sacrifice. Salary exchange programmes can include childcare vouchers, cycle-to-work schemes, loans.
7. Resources for joining the UK workforce
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See the RCPod's membership fees
Step to work e-learning - HEE/NHSE
This is a resource comprised of an eight module learning programme, available via e-learning for healthcare, intending to support AHPs transition from education to employment in a health and social care setting, providing the ‘new to role’ AHPs with guidance, support and practical tools to help them reflect on their experiences.
The eight modules cover:
- Positive appraisal of learning during challenging situations
- Personal wellbeing at work
- Everyday work
- Systems that shape everyday practice
- Ethics, accountability, and decision-making
- Developing and working in an inclusive environment
- Building positive relationships
- Sustaining change and learning
e-learning for healthcare is accessible via RCPod membership
HCPC resources: joining the UK workforce
Webinars are available via the HCPC website to support international recruits.
We recommend that you join the UK workforce webinar once registration is achieved. You can find it under the events section of Professional Liaison Service page.
Additional resources are available covering professional development areas for professionals including reflective practice, confidentiality and record keeping. These are available below:
See also: