Relocating to the UK
If you successfully get appointed as a Social Worker in Gloucestershire, here is everything you need to know.
Applying for a visa
Once appointed you will need to start the process of applying for a visa.
To apply for a visa, you will need a Certificate of Sponsorship (COS) which we will apply for on your behalf. Once we have created and assigned your COS we will send it over to you to help with the visa process. But please be aware that COS are only valid for 3 months and need to be used within that time.
On arrival
When entering the UK on a visa for the first time, you will be issued with a temporary vignette in your passport, valid for 30 days.
Right to work checks
As part of normal pre-employment screening, you will be asked to present original documents to establish your right to work in the UK.
On your arrival into the UK an appointment will be made with the Children’s Social Work Recruitment Team so they can check and copy the original documents.
Opening a bank account before you move to the UK
Major UK banks, such as HSBC, NatWest and Santander, provide global services which may enable you to set up a UK bank account before arriving in the UK linked to your home country account, or an international currency account. Requirements vary from country to country, so please check with your bank online for details.
If you are opening a UK-based account, you will be required to provide proof of your identity and address, either by attending an appointment in the local branch shortly after your arrival in the UK, or by sending certified copies of your documents by post.
Transferring money to the UK
You should ensure that you have sufficient funds at your disposal when you arrive in the UK. Opening a bank account in the UK is not straightforward if you move from overseas and it may take up to two weeks before you receive a debit card which can be used to withdraw money from local cash machines.
In addition, you may need to pay a deposit or rent in advance before you can move into rented accommodation.
Access to healthcare services
Healthcare in the UK is provided by the National Health Service (NHS), and is available to anyone who is 'ordinarily resident' (including EU/EEA citizens with settled or pre-settled status) or who has paid the Immigration Health Surcharge as part of a visa application.
Visa holders should bring their Biometric Residence Permit with them when accessing healthcare services.
You should register with your nearest health centre soon after your move to the UK. Your surgery will then assign a doctor, known as a 'general practitioner' or 'GP', who will oversee your routine medical care.
Schooling for children
Children must attend full-time schooling from the age of five. They usually attend the school nearest to their home, as priority is given to children who live within a school's catchment area (a defined area around the school, see individual school admissions policies for details). Gloucestershire has lots of very good schools and our Education Service colleagues can help you find places for your children,
The school stages are:
Primary school: ages 4-11 (sometimes divided into Infant School for ages 4-7 and Junior School for ages 7-
11)Secondary school: ages 11–16
Sixth Form: ages 16–18 (pupils may continue at a secondary school, or attend either a Sixth Form college or Further Education college)
To find out more about schools in Gloucestershire take a look here.
Housing
How to rent in the UK and your legal rights as a tenant:
If you decide to rent a home, you will be asked early on by a letting agent whether you would like your property to be fully furnished (ie, with all the furniture and appliances), semi-furnished or unfurnished. Unfurnished properties will typically be cheaper than their furnished equivalents, but you will need to source your own furniture. Once you have decided on the property, you will enter into a tenancy agreement with the landlord (either directly or through a letting agent), which will set out the terms of the rental and other mutual rights and obligations between you and your landlord, including an initial deposit.
Landlords are required by UK law to check your right to rent before the tenancy begins. This will depend on your visa status and may be time-limited. You will be asked to provide appropriate documents to prove your right to rent for the whole of the tenancy period.
The area you choose to live in will depend on your personal preferences and circumstances. You may wish to consider the following:
- Commuting time (how long it will take you to reach your place of work)
- Public transport links
- Car parking facilities
- Proximity to hospitals and any other services that are important to you
A good place to start when looking for rental properties is Rightmove.
Transport
As social workers, you will be expected to have your own car for work purposes as you will be required to go out to visit families and children in many locations and you may also be required to help transport children to court.
Transport is a very important aspect to consider when living and working in Gloucestershire as some of the towns and villages are quite rural.
Once you start with Gloucestershire you will also have access to pool cars, cycle to work scheme and rent a car through enterprise. (for work purposes)
If you have any other questions around your relocation to the UK please feel free to email CSWrecruitment@gloucestershire.gov.uk and they will be happy to help.