1. Learn home
  2. International recruitment into adult social care
  3. Information for employers supporting refugees and asylum seekers into health and social care careers
  4. Refugee Candidate Resource
  5. Knowing what to look out for

Knowing what to look out for

Add to favourites

Scotland’s adult social care system is made up of organisations that provide personal care or support for vulnerable adults requiring additional needs or who are at risk.  It is important that you understand the sector before deciding to apply for a job, and that you understand the recruitment process so that you can give yourself the very best possibility of success.

Types of organisations

Most adult social care services are delivered by three different types of organisations:

  1. Private
  2. Local Authorities
  3. Voluntary or ‘Not for Profit’ (charities)

Any of these organisations may decide to actively recruit staff from the displaced talent pool, as internationally trained staff are an integral part of the adult social care workforce in Scotland, with ethical recruitment being a key part of the Scottish government’s plan to grow the adult social care workforce.

Modern slavery

Genuine, ethical recruiters and employers in Scotland want the experience of every recruit to be as positive as possible. This includes offering a package of support from the moment that an offer of employment has been made.

However, some individuals and organisations engage in fraudulent, and in some cases criminal activities, wishing to exploit people seeking a new life.  Being able to recognize which organisations are genuinely conducting ethical recruitment, and which to avoid, is critical to a successful transition to working in Scotland.

Be sure to follow these 3 top tips when looking for an adult social care role in Scotland:

  1. If you are approached by a recruitment agency, then make sure that they are listed on the UK’s official ethical recruiters list. Agencies on this list have agreed to abide by a code of practice and should be the only agencies that ethical employers in Scotland are using.
  2. DO NOT pay any money to an agency or employer to find you a job. It is illegal for any agency in the UK to charge anyone who is looking for work in the UK.  If an agency tries to charge you money to find you employment, then walk away and find a different agency to work with.  You can report any such organisation to NHS Employers, by emailing internationalrecruitment@nhsconfed.org, who will then investigate.
  3. There is a saying in the UK that if something seems too good to be true, then it probably isn’t true.  Be sceptical and investigate further until you are sure that what is on offer is genuine.

For more detail and advice on how to avoid being scammed by unethical recruiters and employers read ‘Avoiding scams and modern slavery – a guide for refugees and asylum seekers’, or visit this site UK.Gov website.

The cost of working in Scottish adult social care

The cost of working in Scottish adult social care

There will be costs to be met whilst you are waiting for that first paycheck.  Our guide ‘The cost of working in Scottish Social Care’, provides a lot more detail on the costs you can expect to have, and which ones your new employer may provide assistance with. 

Refugee resource : the cost of working in adult social care

If you do decide to apply for a social care role in Scotland, then there will be costs involved, and this guide will provide you with some idea of what those costs might be so that any decision you make is an informed one.