In this section, you will find some frequently asked questions about the programme. At the end of each section, you can download a more in-depth document containing more FAQs.
What is the Centre for Workforce Supply Social Care Team?
The Centre for Workforce Supply Social Care Team (CWSS) is a newly established team within the Workforce Directorate of NHS Education for Scotland. It has been commissioned by the Scottish Government to deliver an exciting new programme of work, to pilot nationally coordinated and accelerated international recruitment into adult social care roles across Scotland. The team will work closely with colleagues in the NES Social Care Directorate and with stakeholders from Scottish Government and COSLA to deliver this work.
What is the international recruitment into adult social care programme?
A model to be used in Scotland to support the recruitment of adult social care workers ethically and sustainably from overseas that aims to respond to some of the challenges currently faced by social care providers.
The model is for a new Centre for Workforce Supply (CWS) for social care. This builds on the existing CWS for health, which was established in 2021, and has been effective in supporting the international recruitment of healthcare professionals across Scotland.
For more information and frequently asked questions about the project, please download the Project FAQs here:
What is direct international recruitment?
For the purposes of the Project, direct international recruitment can either refer to the active (advertising in that country) recruitment of workers from overseas, and/or it could refer to a care provider only using internal recruitment resources.
What does “ethical recruitment” mean in this programme?
Ethical recruitment in this context means ensuring that recruiting staff for our own health and social care services does not disadvantage those same services in lower-income countries. The Scottish Government has a Code of Practice for international recruitment. Compliance with this Code of Practice ensures that the international recruitment of health and social care personnel minimises harm to the health and care systems of source countries, whilst safeguarding the rights of health personnel to migrate, and ensures fair and just recruitment and employment practices.
What roles can be recruited through the project?
There are two roles that can be recruited through the project. The first is SOC 6145: Care workers and home carers, the other is SOC 6146: Senior care workers.
For more information and frequently asked questions about international recruitment, including queries around visas, licences and certificates of sponsorship please download the International Recruitment FAQs here:
What is pastoral support?
Pastoral support or care was historically seen and used in describing a religious concept of shepherds caring for their flock. Subsequently the educational sector adopted pastoral support to depict support for the welfare and non-educational needs to help children thrive while learning. Recently, the relevance of staff wellbeing and pastoral support now encompasses the different dimensions of a person to help them not only survive but thrive at work. Pastoral support recognises the wellbeing needs of all whom we work for and with.
Facilitating Pastoral support in adult social care enables people feel valued and connected to their professional community and incites motivation for work. It uses a range of tools and resources including an asset-based approach to galvanise and promote achievement of the international recruitment process and overall organisational objectives in addition to maintaining and sustaining healthy working relationships.
How will the programme support providers with pastoral support and education for recruits?
The Code of practice for international recruitment states that induction programmes should encompass cultural and pastoral support to settle into working and living in Scotland. This should include welcoming of recruits (and family), accommodation, pay, registering with a GP, dentist, schooling, setting up a bank account, information relating to professional organisations, union representation, national Embassies or High Commissions and introduction to social networks.
The programme will Centrally coordinate guidance and best practice resources/materials to support effective international recruitment plans, pastoral and professional best practice and overall implementation provided by NES and CWS. The programme will also share learning and best practice to ensure consistent, high-quality recruitment and retention initiatives via an online community of practice for international recruitment leads to allow easier sharing of ideas and discussion.
For more information and frequently asked questions about pastoral support, please download the Pastoral Support FAQs here: