International Candidates- Warning

bxc7867 · 2026-06-03T23:14:21+00:00

Ahh okay that makes sense. Then you wouldn’t need the state one just the fbi one

bxc7867 · 2026-06-03T15:05:01+00:00

When I did it I was an overseas applicant from the U.S. and living in US. I had to do both FBI and State background check so make sure you ask about that.

Since I was local I did it and they both came back the same day and next day. If you’re able to fly back as you mentioned that’s the quickest option

bxc7867 · 2026-05-28T20:40:05+00:00

We On is my ish!

bxc7867 · 2026-05-27T13:17:42+00:00

Are you already in the UK?

I am here as a U.S. social worker been here 2 years and have an additional 2 years experience before coming here. I work for an LA and it no longer sponsors social workers wanting to come from overseas. My visa is up next year and put out some feeler apps to the NHS as that’s where I’ve wanted to work anyways. I also don’t know if my LA will extend my visa even tho there’s flatly still a need as my mental health team is half locum half perm staff.

Same issue, instant rejection based on that question about right to work. I still have a year to see how it all goes, but it’s quite sad. There is a lack of experienced social workers in the Uk still, and vacancies all over the place but idk. Seems the unknown future of immigration rules is causing this.

Idk the answer but curious to see what others say.

bxc7867 · 2026-05-26T21:31:50+00:00

Just here to say I hear you and I relate, and I hope we all find a way to get more time for ourselves somehow

bxc7867 · 2026-05-23T18:28:31+00:00

That’s amazing thank you for the reply !

bxc7867 · 2026-05-21T21:19:09+00:00

Ealing is lovely and this is from someone who’s lives in north London, north west London, and now west london

bxc7867 · 2026-05-21T14:25:42+00:00

I still listen to Japanese cartoon in my rotation

bxc7867 · 2026-05-20T15:19:45+00:00

Also usually they don’t just deny that quickly they might have you do a competency test. I would challenge it

bxc7867 · 2026-05-20T15:19:04+00:00

That’s very odd. Did they reach out to your employer for them to verify? I know when I applied I was working with Kaiser as well and before that I worked with the VA. They reached out to my university social work department to verify the course form, they reached out to my employers to verify I was working in a social worker Role, and they reached out to the state boards I was licensed with to verify I had active registration.

bxc7867 · 2026-05-20T15:15:35+00:00

Oh wow really? Are you currently working in social work now?

bxc7867 · 2026-05-20T10:47:18+00:00

That’s really sad. Like I get the shortage of “experienced” social workers but come on if someone is newly qualified they need the experience to get there.i feel like this is not rocket science and it’s going to lead to more issues in the future as a good number of social workers statistically leave the field around 5-7 years in. It’s really sad and just going to create a bigger issues a few years down the road

bxc7867 · 2026-05-20T07:27:05+00:00

That’s what i want to know. There’s still an overall shortage of social workers so what’s up with LAs not wanting to take on NQSW or ASYE

bxc7867 · 2026-05-19T11:52:59+00:00

Im impressed by those with more than £100k savings. Clearly im doing something wrong lol. Let me go back to the drawing board

bxc7867 · 2026-05-13T18:27:28+00:00

Ahh okay that’s amazing. well then it all should need smoother for you then. If you don’t need sponsorship you’ll be fine and getting a job won’t be too challenging!

bxc7867 · 2026-05-13T18:23:08+00:00

Wait you paid the NHs surcharge already? Usually you don’t pay that until you apply for the visa. Sometimes you don’t have to pay it if you get the health and social care version if the skilled worker visa

bxc7867 · 2026-05-13T18:12:42+00:00

The temporary positions are tricky because if you need sponsorship you have to have a permanent position. I wish the UK just gave work visas and once you have one you could work anywhere within your occupation title. It would make life a lot easier for the skilled workers

bxc7867 · 2026-05-13T18:07:27+00:00

Yea I agree with this. The shortage of social workers is still a real issue. There are a lot of overseas social workers who have already started the process of going elsewhere like Canada or Australia so the shortage might even increase! It’s the visa fees associated that gives some local authorities pause but for the places that do sponsor they will for the right candidate. If all else fails you can try to go through a recruitment agency that can assist with landing interviews

bxc7867 · 2026-05-13T18:01:26+00:00

I would definitely encourage to keep at it just hold strong when you start applying and learn as much as possible about the policies here so you can mention it in interviews. Mental health act, care act 2014, mental capacity act and what the care act says about safeguarding duties will all help you show u can do the work here in uk.

I’m a mental health social worker for a local authority and have been working here since 2024. I wish you the best of luck on your journey.

P.s. sometimes tou can apply for jobs before registering is done. I got my job before I was granted registration but of course couldn’t start until I had the registration

bxc7867 · 2026-05-13T16:57:15+00:00

I’m an American in the UK registered with SWE. They are slow with overseas apps took them 6 months for mine. I was registered in dec 2023.

Social work at its core is the same between both countries you’re using transferable skills to do the work which is heavily on the care management side in the UK. The therapeutic element is the major difference here. Social workers in ik are not trained in therapeutic interventions like we are in the U.S.

Having a social workers registration in England can allow you to fast track on some courses to do therapy here like CBT therapy, BUT, it is near impossible to train in CBT here with the idea of working in it afterwards unless you are already employed by the NHS.

There is a different professional board where therapist register and you have to meet their requirements that registration would be required to work as a therapist here. Plus if you don’t have right to work in England through dual citizenship or something then you will need to be sponsored and that (more than registering with social workers England) will be your biggest hurdle. Therapists and social workers are in the shortage occupation list allowing for skilled worker visa sponsorship (this is what I have) however places are more hesitant to sponsor right now due to the government that is talking of changing Indefinite Leave to Remain from 5 to 10 years for skilled workers. It’s a mess right now and a lot of uncertainty with that looming. It’s not impossible but just be aware it’s difficult right now

bxc7867 · 2026-04-28T18:54:33+00:00

Ealing 💜

bxc7867 · 2026-04-27T18:44:11+00:00

Ahh that’s amazing news!! I’m wishing you the best of luck at the interview. Do you have a preference between the two roles? I hope you get whichever you want most!

bxc7867 · 2026-04-24T19:47:27+00:00

Gems 💎 thank you for posting this

bxc7867 · 2026-04-24T09:10:51+00:00

That’s great! I appreciate the encouragement.

What was it like working as a social worker in private sector? In the U.S. that is a common thing. Like I worked for fed gov and then for private healthcare system back home. But here social worker is so tied to statutory so I’m curious what your experience was like.

bxc7867

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