Good practice - international staff at Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (BCHC) has taken a proactive approach to ensuring internationally-trained HCPC registrants are provided with the support they need to settle and adapt to practice in the UK.

Our international recruitment team works in partnership with clinical teams and services to ensure internationally-recruited HCPC registrants transition to life and work in the UK. This is achieved through well-structured pastoral support, a 'Preparation for Practice' program and bespoke induction to services and teams to provide the foundation necessary for the provision of safe high-quality care.

In brief, the following has helped to secure smooth transitions to practice in the UK:

• Pastoral support - settling can be a challenge therefore the main aim has been to provide support throughout the entire process, including acclimatisation, accommodation support and support with practical issues.
• A ‘Preparation for Practice’ programme, which includes sessions on understanding the organisation, the NHS, team dynamics, service structure and role. The HCPC Upstream Regulation Team has inputted into the programme, providing valuable insights to both clinicians and managers in relation to standards of practice, professionalism and fitness to practise.
• Robust induction to local teams, including scenario-based training, clinical rounds and in-service training.
• An international recruitment forum for networking, learning and celebrating achievements.
• Ongoing commitment to support the continued development of staff via IMPACT (Interview Mastery, Personal Applications and Career Training), which supports staff looking to progress in their careers by providing advice and guidance on writing applications and interview techniques.
• Development of a ‘Building Bridges’ initiative, to promote an environment where there is greater understanding of cultural identity and promote integration. The programme will consider the cultural barriers and unconscious biases that impact on decision making, and transformational ambassadors will support implementation of the programme.

The Trust says:

BCHC has hugely benefited from the recruitment of international registrants across a range of services and teams. Their skills, experiences and diverse perspectives are not only beneficial to those using services but also those providing the care, support and rehabilitation, doing so in a way that is informed, patient centred and inclusive."

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