When it comes to finding an appropriate recruitment agency, you’ll likely ask them all the obvious questions like “how much do you charge?”, “how do you source your nurses?” and “how long does the process take?”.

But when it comes to finding a specialist international nurse recruitment agency, you may also want to ask them the following questions:

1.Are you registered with the NHS Employers Code of Practice?

Whether or not you are an NHS employer, or a private employer this question is still relevant to you. Why? Because it means that the recruiter you are working with is behaving in an ethical fashion. A registration on this list confirms that the recruiter is working in accordance with the relevant regulatory bodies, they are only sourcing applicants from approved regions, and they aren’t charging the candidate – all important factors when making your decision of which agent to choose.

2. How do you support nurses pass their IELTS or OET exam?

It is widely recognised that the English Language competence test is by far the most challenging element of the NMC registration process. The level of support provided to nurses is a key determinant of how fast the nurse is able to proceed through the process. Ask your agent HOW they support the nurse. Is the nurse enrolled on an approved language programme or are they self-reviewing? Does the agency provide financial assistance? Is the programme flexible enough to accommodate shift pattern changes and personal circumstance? What monitoring of the nurse will there be during this period? What updates should you expect to receive? You should be satisfied after this conversation that the agent is doing all they can to help progress the nurse’s application. Agents who aren’t playing a proactive role here risk delaying the nurse’s arrival by several months. 

3. What support do you offer for the NMC’s Computer Based Test (CBT) and Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE)?

In order to fully qualify as a UK nurse, candidates must first pass the CBT, and then the OSCE upon arrival. Both tests are challenging and require adequate preparation. The recruiter you choose to work with should either be able to provide support and revision materials for these tests themselves, or be able to point you towards an approved provider. If the nurse fails the OSCE twice their visa will be invalidated so it is imperative that the nurse is supported by one of the stakeholders in your process.

4. What support do you provide to the nurse after they have arrived in the UK?

Although many international nurses are incredibly excited to relocate to the UK, it is still a big move for them and therefore it is important that the recruiter continues to play a supportive role beyond the nurses actual arrival in the UK. Remember that nurses who don’t settle in may be tempted to return home or look for an alternative sponsor. Check with your recruiter what support they can offer to ease the path of the nurse. Many recruiters will offer a meet and greet on arrival for the nurse, assistance with providing accommodation on arrival, regular phone calls, and recommendations on how to integrate the nurse.

5. How will you keep us updated on the progress of the applicants after they have accepted our offer of employment?

The nature of international recruitment is that it’s not a “quick fix”. Typically it takes 4-6 months after the offer of employment for the nurse to arrive during which time they proceed through their NMC registration process, visa application and eventual relocation. The more transparent your recruiter is during this period with regard to the progress of the candidate, their test results, and their personal circumstances, the better you are able to workforce plan. Make sure there’s not a black hole in communications during this time so that you are being given the most up-to-date information and you can plan accordingly.

If you have any other questions around how to select an agent and things to look out for, feel free to contact us at hello@myhealthcarerecruit.com

My Healthcare Recruit supports UK healthcare employers in the public, private, and care sector to find international nurses who are a great fit for their organization, by using market-leading video interviewing tools to connect them to our database of qualified candidates. Our innovative approach makes international candidates easier to find and more cost-effective to source than ever before. Find out more at www.myhealthcarerecruit.com