NHS Lothian’s workforce is diverse and multicultural – just like our patients. We often look beyond the UK and Europe to attract the best candidates. We treat all job applicants in the same way.
To make sure we do not discriminate in the recruitment practice we request evidence of all applicants’ eligibility to work in the UK, check the evidence provided and keep records of documentation provided for successful candidates to provide evidence to the immigration service if requested. If you are applying from overseas: Check the person specification – This sets out the requirements you will need to have to be considered for the role.
Make sure you have the relevant experience and qualifications before applying for a job. International recruitment of healthcare professionals – NHS Lothian follows the code of practice for the international recruitment of healthcare professionals. This promotes the best possible standards in international recruitment, and discourages any inappropriate practices that could harm other countries’ healthcare systems or the interests of those who apply for posts. Professional registration – If you are applying for a post that requires professional registration, you will need to register with the appropriate regulatory body. Right to work in the UK – A points-based system is the UK’s immigration system for managing applications by individuals from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland wishing to work, train or study in the UK. This system simplifies routes to employment and education in the UK to five tiers.
If you come from outside the EEA, you need to gain points to qualify for a specific tier before you can apply to work in the UK. The number of points required varies for each tier but reflect the applicants’ qualifications, experience, age, previous earnings and language competence.
There are a number of shortage occupations recognised by the United Kingdom Government. To find out if the post that you might be considering falls under this category, please use the GOV.UK link to search for it.
European Economic Area (EEA) nationals
As with all applicants we will ask EEA individuals to prove their eligibility to work in UK.
For information on the EU Settlement Scheme please visit the Government website pages for EU citizens already working in the UK.
EU/EEA nationals obtain their right to reside/ work in the UK from EU law. The UK’s withdrawal from the European Union raises concerns for EU/EEA nationals because EU law will no longer apply to the UK.
Below is an explanation of some of the key terms EU/EEA nationals may use at interviews when discussing their status:
- Permanent residency – EU/EEA nationals qualify for permanaent residence after five years of living in the UK – subject to meeting certain conditions. Permanenet residence gives EU/EEA nationals the right to live permanently in the UK, but can be lost if they are absent from the country for over tow years.
- EU Exit Settlement Scheme or ‘Settled Status’ – During withdrawal negotiations, the UK and EU27 agreed a joint technical note on citizens’ rights at negotiator level, reaching consensus on a number of areas. The UK plans to introduce a new settlement scheme. EU citizens and their family members wanting to remain in the UK will have to apply to get their status regularised.
- Naturilisation – After obtaining permanent residency, applicants can apply to naturalise as British citizens. Thiis requires applicants to sit the ‘Life int he UK’ test and pass a language test, as well as collecting some documentation.
Brexit – Keeping up-to-date:
- You can visit the Scottish Government’s website for their position on EU Citizens’ rights
- You can sign up for email alerts from the Home Office on citizens’ rights
- You can visit the European Commission’s website for information on citizen’s rights.
European Union (EU) countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the UK. EEA countries: The EEA includes EU countries and also Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. It allows them to be part of the EU’s single market
Countries with worker restrictions
You may need a visa to come to the UK to visit, study or work. Before applying for a vacancy in NHS Lothian, to see if there might be any current applicable restricitons you need to be aware of with regard to working, visit www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa
Turkey: You can apply for permission to stay in the UK as a Turkish Worker if you are a Turkish national and have legally worked in the UK for at least one year as:
- The spouse of a British or settled person without any restrictions on working in the UK
- A holder of a work permit allowing you to work in the UK
- A student allowed to work 20 hours a week during term-time and full-time during vacation periods.
For further information on being a Turkish worker please visit the Home Office website.
Immigration application process
The UK immigration points-based system is the process used to manage applications by individuals from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland wishing to work, train or study in the UK. Within the points-based system, there are different education and employment routes available to foreign nationals: Tier 2 (General): skilled workers: This route allows NHS Lothian to sponsor individuals from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland to fill vacancies that cannot be filled by a British or EEA worker. Before an individual can apply for entry into the UK under this Tier, they must have both a sponsor and a valid Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS). The CoS is not an actual certificate or paper document but a unique reference number which will be issued by the sponsor and will form part of the documentary evidence required when making an application. A CoS can be issued for a maximum of five years. This can be extended up to a maximum of five years as long as the total stay is not more than six years, after which the individual may qualify for settlement. If they change employment whilst in the UK, they will need a new CoS from their employer. Please note: the Government controls the number of migrants coming into the UK to work and places restrictions on the number of certificates of sponsorship that are available to issue. Tier 4: is for students who wish to come to the UK from outside the EEA to study. Individuals will need to be sponsored by the educational establishment to undertake their studies. Foundation Programme training for doctors and dentists: There are the following exceptions to university or college sponsorship for Tier 4:
- Two year Foundation Programme for doctors – sponsorship granted by Health Education South London (effective from July 2015 when responsibility for medical school graduate sponsorship changed from the UK Foundation Programme Office)
- One year Foundation Programme for dentists – sponsorship granted by Health Education South London.
In order for a student to be issued with a Tier 4 visa to undertake a recognised Foundation Programme in either medicine or dentistry, they must have graduated from an accredited UK university with a UK degree in either medicine or dentistry. They will be issued with an extension to their Tier 4 visa by the new sponsor, as outlined above, to cover the duration of the Foundation Programme training up to a maximum of three years. The Home Office confirmed changes which came into force on 13 December 2012 to allow students to start working as a doctor or dentist as soon as they have submitted an application in which they are sponsored to do a recognised NHS Foundation Programme, while they are waiting for that application to be decided. These new arrangements will avoid potential delays for medical degree students in beginning the next stage of their training. Upon completion of the Foundation Programme training, trainees will be able to transfer into Tier 2 to either continue their core or specialty training or pursue another career route. Tier 5: the temporary worker category of Tier 5 allows NHS Lothian to employ individuals from outside the EEA for up to 24 months as part of a government-authorised exchange programme. The youth mobility category of Tier 5 replaces the working holidaymaker visa. Any countries who are part of the Youth Mobility Scheme (YMS), can act as sponsors to issue their nationals who qualify with a Certificate of Sponsorship.
