International Recruitment has a different set of challenges compared to recruiting from within the UK, particularly in ensuring that the new recruits feel welcomed and are able to access pastoral support

West Midlands Care Association has secured funding to support buddying activities for international recruits within your organisations. This is to allow you the time to provide the pastoral care that ensures international recruitment is a success

Care providers located within the following local authorities can apply for a small cash grant to support buddying activities within their locations:

Birmingham

Dudley

Herefordshire

Sandwell

Walsall

Wolverhampton

Worcestershire

This grant can be used for backfill to release a member of staff to provide pastoral care to overseas recruits within their organisations

What is pastoral care?

International recruits very often don't know how life works in the UK. By having a 'buddy' they can turn to within their organisation who can give them guidance on how things work in our country ensures that they feel welcomed and integrate more quickly. Examples may be applying for driving licenses or signposting them to religious organisations

How will the scheme work?

In order to apply you must meet the following criteria:

• Be a CQC registered Adult Social Care providers located within the local authorities mentioned above
• Have a valid Home Office Sponsorship license
• Have international recruits who have entered the UK within the last 12 months

Buddies will be required to attend a webinar hosted by the Care Association so that they are clear on what a buddy is and the sort of support they should be offering. Attendance is a mandatory element of the funding. Attendance of the webinar will trigger payment of the first 50% of your grant award.

For more details and to apply to the scheme, please visit our webpages here

This funding has been made available from the Department of Heath and Social Care and administered by WM ADASS. West Midlands Care Association is acting as the fund administrators for this particular project