Overseas
Candidates

Working in the UK

There are various factors to whether someone is eligible to work in the UK so please read the following advice on working in the UK.

Non-clinical Candidates

It is difficult to obtain a work permit for the majority of non-clinical candidates because of tight UK immigration regulations. As HCA receive a sufficient number of job applications from the UK & EU/EEA we are unable to apply for a work permit for any overseas applicant.

Nurse Candidates

To work in the UK you must be registered with the Nursing Midwifery Council (NMC) and obtain a valid PIN number. Depending on where your nurse training was received the registration processes will be different for everyone. You can obtain further information about NMC Registration here:
www.nmc-uk.org/aArticle.aspx?ArticleID=2212.

EU/EEA Applicants

All EU/EEA applicants will be required to register with the NMC.

EU/EEA applicants are not required to obtain a work permit unless they are from the new member states of Bulgaria and Romania.

EU applicants are generally not required to undertake the overseas Nurse Programme (ONP).

Overseas Applicants (not EU / EEA)

If you are an overseas applicant, you will be required to undertake all or part of the Overseas Nurse Programme (ONP).

This is comprised of a 20 day protected learning period, designed to give you a thorough understanding of working in the UK Healthcare system. You may also be required to undergo a three month or six month supervised practice. The NMC will be able to instruct you on which level of ONP you are required to take.

You can find a list of approved educational institutions on the NMC website where you can do your ONP: www.nmc-uk.org/aArticle.aspx?ArticleID=2566

Immigration

For details on eligibility to work in the UK, please refer to the Home Office website - www.workingintheuk.gov.uk or call on Telephone: 0870 606 7766. Due to changes in immigration law, some nurses are no longer on the skilled shortage list. This means that it is difficult for non EU citizens to obtain a work permit.

We can apply for work permits for nurses in the following specialities:

• Operating Theatre Nurse
• Anaesthetic Nurses
• Operating Department Practitioners
• Scrub Nurses
• Theatre Nurses
• Critical Care Nurses (nurses working in critical units with a level 2 or 3 classification)

Nurses who already have an existing work permit with a current or previous employer

We can offer assistance with obtaining a work permit transfer if you are offered a job with us.

Work permits may be obtained for nurses not on the skills shortage list ONLY if we can prove that we have unsuccessfully tried to recruit within the UK and EU.

EU Citizens

With the exception of Romania and Bulgaria, all EU candidates are eligible to work in the UK as an EU citizen without a work permit. Those from Poland, Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia, Slovenia, Slovakia, Hungary and the Czech Republic are required to apply to register with the Home Office under the new 'Worker Registration Scheme' as soon as they find work in the UK. Those from Romania and Bulgaria are required to obtain a work permit unless they qualify for the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme.

Pharmacists & Allied Health Professionals

Registration

To work as an AHP, you will need to be registered with Health Care Professional Council (HPC) or the Royal Pharmaceutical society of Great Britain. This process could take anything from 5 weeks up to a couple of months depending where you received your qualifications, gained your experience and your English proficiency.

If you are offered a position at HCA you will be provided assistance with the following:

• Flight Allowance
• Taxi Pick-Up
• Accommodation
• Immigration Assistance