International recruitment into adult social care

This video has been designed to help you understand how much money you will earn and will help you decide if Scotland is the right place for you.  

To help ensure public protection, people working in social services have a duty to raise concerns and employers are responsible for making sure they can do this in an easy and safe way. The Care Inspectorate guidance 'Raising concerns in the workplace' clearly sets out these roles and responsibilities and the protection offered to people raising concerns under whistleblowing legislation. Read the guidance here https://ow.ly/BKXe50Q8Fne

If you have a visa to work in Scotland, you have the same employment rights as any other worker.  However, it can feel harder to complain about abuse of your rights because of intimidation and the fear of dismissal as well as the perceived impact to your visa status.  The Citizens Advice Scotland website provides advice and guidance for such situations.

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/scotland/immigration/health-and-care-worker-visas/problems-with-work-if-you-have-a-health-and-care-worker-visa/

ALISS – A Local Information System for Scotland

ALISS aims to ensure that everyone in Scotland has the right information, at the right time, about resources that are available to help them live well and stay connected to their community. ALISS is a national digital programme enabling people and professionals to find and share information on resources, services, groups, and support in their local communities and online.  

ALISS can help you find information about resources like:

• groups that support social and community connection (e.g., local choirs, book groups, befriending)
• activities that offer opportunities for getting more active and for getting outdoors (e.g., badminton clubs, community gardens)
• practical, legal, and financial support (e.g., money advice, advocacy services)
• digital technology that can support health and social care (e.g., online forums, health related mobile apps).
• services that provide support for managing long term conditions

Find services, groups and activities for health and wellbeing in your area here : ALISS - A Local Information System for Scotland | ALISS

These resources will empower you to think about and look after your health and wellbeing both personally and professionally. It includes information on seeking advice for your rights and responsibilities at work, routine and emergency contacts, access to savings and discount (for some retail therapy!) as well as opportunity to access work-related grants.

• Staff Wellbeing & Self-care in a crisis- Provides information on self-care, self-awareness, identifying triggers which impact on your wellbeing and access to a wellbeing planning tool to help you identify and navigate things that keep you well Staff Wellbeing & Self Care in a Crisis on Vimeo & Taking care of myself | Turas | Learn (nhs.scot)

• The National Wellbeing Hub provides relevant information to support the wellbeing of all workers in health and social care. It also provides a helpline to support mental health difficulties. Tel: 0800 111 4191 News - National Wellbeing Hub

• Mental Health Support Services NHS (National Health Service) 24 Line- NHS provides advice and assessment for urgent mental health crisis or emergencies. No matter what you may be going through, the mental health helpline is available to offer 24-hour advice and support to all individuals including access to a mental health professional. To contact NHS 24, Dial ‘111’.

• The Workforce Specialist Services- The WSS (Workforce Specialist Service) is a multidisciplinary mental health service providing expertise in treating regulated health and social care professionals. The service provides. Accessible here: The Workforce Specialist Service (WSS) - National Wellbeing Hub

• Spiritual Care:  Spiritual Care within social care encompasses all aspects of the wellbeing of an individual which seeks to find connection to foster meaning purpose significance and hope in all areas of our lives. The International Recruitment into Adult Social Care Toolkit for Employers provides further information include a case study to demonstrate the positive impact of spiritual care within social care.

Rights and Entitlements

• ACAS- The Advisory, Conciliatory and Arbitration Services (ACAS) is an independent public body who helps to improve workplace relations by providing advice on employer and employee rights, rules and responsibilities at work. They also support with the resolution of workplace disputes. For ACAS Helpline: 0300 123 1100. More information can be found at: Acas | Making working life better for everyone in Britain

• Citizen’s Advice Scotland- CAS is a UK voluntary sector organisation and an advisory body interconnected to networks of independent charities offering confidential advice, and helpline over the phone, online and in person. CAS offers free independent and impartial advice with no limitations to whoever can access their services with the fundamental aim of helping people solve problems. Services include, consumer helpline, pension guidance, support for witnesses in court through a witness service, access to a key worker, housing, employment, debt, benefits, tax credits, universal credits, disability issues, energy bills and socio-economic and even, environmental issues. It is vital for the IR candidates to confirm their immigration status, rights and entitlements when making enquiries. Citizens Advice Scotland

• Unions – Trade Unions are independent bodies who supports the welfare of its members, advance their interest in relation to work and working conditions, and provide appropriate protection for employment related matters. Trade unions members comprise of employees or workers of organisations.

• Scottish Social Service Council (SSSC)- The Scottish Social Services Council are the regulatory body tasked with the responsibility of ensuring the standards and code of practice are upheld for social care, social work and children and young people workforce in Scotland. https://www.sssc.uk.com/the-scottish-social-services-council/about-the-sssc/

• Access to Work- Access to work is a government initiative aimed at providing discretionary funds for helping people with work related physical or mental difficulties and disabilities. Access to work enables the employee:

1. Apply for a grant to enable practical support at work such as ergonomic support to your area of work, equipment, assistive technology, vehicle adaptations or human support.
2. Manage mental health at work and
3. Access funds to pay for communication needs at a job interview

Please note that aspects to your work requiring funds for ‘reasonable adjustments’ are a legal obligation by your employer and will not be covered under Access to Work. In addition, it is important to check your eligibility to access any category of this grant.

• NHS INFORM- NHS inform is an online platform containing all health-related resources and information to support knowledge and healthy living for anyone living in or coming to Scotland. The platform provides information on managing any latest trends observed amongst the population that may pose a public health challenge e.g., winter bug, skin care during summer, coronavirus, or tick bites. It also provides access to your local healthcare provider e.g., General Practitioner, Optician or Dentist within any Scottish locality, acute hospital settings, sexual health clinics and your local pharmacy. The website outlines details on preventative health with lots of self-help guide whilst providing opportunities for knowing your rights when accessing healthcare in Scotland Scottish health information you can trust | NHS inform

• Blue Light Card- Gain access to savings and discounts on products for health and social care staffs here  Blue Light Card

• Social Prescribers- Social Prescribers often accessible through your GP (General Practitioners) surgery, is a service tasked with enabling access to non-medical services and related activities within your local area. Not every locality has a Social Prescribing service, it is helpful to know what is available within your area.