Support for Providers to Recruit International Care Workers

The International Recruitment East programme supports providers with recruitment of displaced care workers.

They offer the following support:

• Provider Incentives: are available for adult social care providers who have recruited care workers who have been displaced because their previous employer’s sponsorship licence was revoked. The offer is £1,575 per worker. It is for up to four members of staff per Care Quality Commission registered location.
• Recruitment support: the International Recruitment East (IRE) website provides resources to help you with sponsorship here including links to webinar slides, local mailboxes and a sponsor self-assessment tool.
• Solicitor support: IRE’s provider legal helpline provides 30 minute of free legal advice from immigration experts. They can offer advice on: sponsorship licences, certificate of sponsorship and sponsorship management. Call 01202 786104 (lines are open 8.30am to 6pm Monday to Friday) or email eastproviderlegal@la-law.com.

Care Workers Charity Grants

You are eligible for a grant if you:

• are an international recruit working in the care sector in the East of England.
• need to secure a new adult social care employer because your previous employer’s licence was revoked.

Grants are available for:

• A work expense grant of up to £500
• A visa fee reimbursement £ visa charge

You can apply for a grant to cover costs incurred from the 1st July 2025. Go to the Care Workers Charity website to apply.

Driving Lessons for International Recruits

IRE are offering a funded package of up to 10 driving lessons, including an assessment, to displaced workers who have been affected by a revocation and are without employment. These lessons are offered on a first come, first served basis.

The criteria:

• You are a displaced worker in the Eastern Region
• Have social care work experience
• Can provide proof of a provisional licence
• Can provide evidence that a theory test has been passed
• Can provide evidence that a driving test has been booked

The lessons will be organised by Eastern Regional Care Alliance Association. To enquire about these, please contact our international recruitment support inbox: internationalsupport@norfolkcareassociation.org.uk

Update on rules for booking driving tests

Improving car driving test booking rules here GOV.UK

Provider Incentives

Financial incentives are available to adult social care providers who employ displaced internationally recruited care workers who are seeking a new employer, having been impacted by a provider licence revocation.

The offer of £1,575 per worker (up to 4 staff per CQC registered location). Financial Incentives can be requested in relation to the recruitment of displaced workers that have taken place from 1st September 2025. Providers can make a claim after the worker has been employed for 8 weeks.

The fund is on a first come, first served basis and is only available to care providers operating in the Eastern Region. (Bedfordshire Borough, Central Bedfordshire, Cambridge, Essex, Hertfordshire, Luton, Milton Keynes, Norfolk, Peterborough, Southend, Suffolk, Thurrock).

To access this offer please contact the Eastern Region Care Alliance Association (ERCAA) who will complete provider checks and administer the payments.

East of England displaced worker platform

The East of England Displaced Worker Platform, is a digital service connecting displaced care workers with trusted social care providers across the region. This initiative has been designed to support both care providers and adult social care workers making recruitment safer, simpler and more effective.

For providers:

Providers can join the platform, and after verification can filter and search candidate profiles, and manage outreach through a secure dashboard. All worker profiles are pre-screened, giving providers confidence in their recruitment process.

• Provider information webinar here
• If you’re a provider interested in joining the platform, register here

For workers:

Displaced care workers can upload their CV, select their contact preferences and become searchable to vetted providers once verification checks are complete. When a provider’s vacancies align with a care worker’s profile, the provider is shown the worker’s preferred communication method and can reach out directly to arrange interviews.

• International recruits information webinar here
• If you’re a displaced worker looking for opportunities, upload your CV here

IRE website

The IRE website has pages specifically for international recruits and care providers. There is lots of information about all the resources promoted in this bulletin and how to book them.