Overseas professionals
Start your NHS career with us as an occupational therapist or a nurse, by applying though our internationally educated professionals programme.
Develop your career as an internationally educated professional
Throughout the year we may have opportunities for both occupational therapists and nurses.
To practice as a registered nurse in the UK, you need to be registered by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).
Before you arrive in the UK, you will need to have started your registration with the NMC, written and passed your computer based test (CBT), and have evidence you reach the English knowledge requirements set out by the NMC.
What does the internationally educated professionals programme include?
- Pastoral and wellbeing support
- Clinical support and teaching
- OSCE preparation
- Competency assessment
- Preceptorship
- Great career opportunities
- Continuous professional development and courses
- Assistance with re-validation.
This training programme is fully funded by us.
Contact us
For further information and to find out more, please email our International Recruitment Team on dpt.internationalrecruitment@nhs.net
Lydia - Mental Health Nurse
Gislaine - Occupational Therapist
Megan - Senior Community Mental Health Practitioner
Interview and checks
If your application has been shortlisted, we will invite you to an interview. Our interviews take place on Microsoft Teams, and our panel consists of educators and senior nurse managers within our organisation.
After your interview, we will contact you within 24 hours to let you know the outcome. If you have been successful, you will receive a conditional offer letter from our Recruitment Team which will outline the next steps.
Once we have completed all of your pre-employment checks, we will be able to discuss a start date with you. We have groups starting every six weeks at present, so we will work with you to find a date that suits you.
Once we have decided on a date, we will be able to issue you with your certificate of sponsorship which will in turn allow you to apply for your visa.
We will support you with your application.
Arriving in the UK
Once your visa has arrived, the International Recruitment team will be able to book your flights for you.
On of our team will collect you from the airport and bring you to Devon and to your accommodation. Flights are normally to Heathrow which is about three and a half hours to Devon, so please ensure you are prepared for this journey.
Once you arrive at your new accommodation, you will be met by our staff accommodation lead, who will run through your tenancy agreement and other legal documents with you.
First week
Your first week with us will mostly consist of support with setting up bank accounts, getting used to your local area, registering with a GP and meeting your new colleagues.
You will also attend many training sessions with our Practice Education team. We hold training sessions on:
- Cultural adaptation
- Emotional intelligence
- Being resilient while in the UK
- Mental Health Act
- Mental Capacity Act
- Safeguarding and more.
You will be fully supported throughout your employment by your manager, your team and our dedicated Wellbeing Co-ordinator and Practice Educator who form our International Recruitment team.
During this time before you sit your OSCE examination, you will be paid at the top of Band 4.
Observed structured clinical examination
Once you have arrived in the UK, we will start preparing you for your observed structured clinical examination (OSCE). You will take this exam within 12-weeks of arriving. Before your exam, we will send you on a five-day training programme with our neighbouring NHS Trust, at Yeovil Hospital. You will normally attend this a week or two before sitting your exam.
The course syllabus equips you with the practical and theoretical knowledge you need to pass the OSCR exam.
This training programme is fully funded by us.
On the last day of the training programme, you will sit a mock OSCE exam. We will receive the results of this mock exam and use this for additional training if needed before your exam.
Your exam
You have three attempts to pass your OSCE exam.
Once you have passed your OSCE exam, you will receive your NMC pin, which allows you to work as a registered mental health nurse in the UK.
Competencies
Once you have received your NMC pin, you will commence our competency programme. You will work through this with your manager and also our practice educator.
This programme will include:
- Workshops
- Supervision
- Ensuring you are competent in your practice.
There is no set time limit and when you are successful you will be able to work without supervision.