Health and social care personnel - international recruitment: updated code of practice

Revision of the code of practice for the international recruitment of health and social care personnel in Scotland to ensure ethical recruitment.


Scope and Remit

The 3 elements to the Code of Practice:

(a) The code of practice.

(b) The red and amber country list (Annex A), and

(c) The ethical recruiters list (managed by NHS Employers on a UK wide basis)

Remit of the code of practice

The Scottish code of practice adheres to the common aims, objectives and guiding principles and best practice benchmarks of the code of practice for England, but it reflects the different organisational structures in Scotland.

This Code of Practice applies to the appointment of all international health and social care personnel in Scotland, including all permanent, temporary, agency and locum staff in clinical and non-clinical settings.

This includes but is not limited to:

  • Allied Health Professionals
  • Anaesthesia Associates
  • Care Workers and Senior Care Workers
  • Dentists
  • Doctors
  • Healthcare Scientists
  • Midwives
  • Nursing Staff
  • Optometrists
  • Opticians
  • Pharmacists
  • Physician Associates
  • Residential And Domiciliary Care Workers
  • Social Workers
  • Support Staff

Organisations which must adhere to the Code of Practice when undertaking international recruitment activity to appoint health and social care personnel include:

  • All health and social care employing organisations, including local authorities (both public and independent); This should ensure compliance where:
    • NHS boards and local authorities should ensure that there is compliance when they are setting up local contracts with independent providers.
    • Where national contracts are signed with the independent sector to increase capacity in the health or social care sector.
  • Any recruitment organisation agency or collaboration that wishes to supply health and social care personnel to the NHS, local authorities, social care organisations or any other Scottish health and care provider. These organisations should appear on the ethical recruiters list.
  • Any organisation which is employing or supplying health or social care personnel, on a temporary basis or permanent basis, to be deployed for the provision of a service in health and/or social care.

Training Programmes

Appointment of healthcare professionals onto postgraduate training programmes listed on Annex B fall outside the scope of the Code of Practice

Contact

Email: sharon.wilson@gov.scot

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