Internal Reference Number: FOI_7989
Date Request Received: 10/06/2024 00:00:00
Date Request Replied To: 02/07/2024 00:00:00
This response was sent via: By Email
Request Summary: International recruitment
Request Category: Companies
| Question Number 1: Please find below a list of questions regarding your trust's use of agencies, recruitment practices, current and future hiring, recruitment efficiency and challenges, benefits and support, and visa and immigration processes. Use of Agencies • Does the trust use agencies to support with permanent/international hires? • Which agencies do you work with for international recruitment? • Which types of hires do you regularly hire through these partners? (doctors, dentists, nurses, AHP, Non-medical) • Please provide a breakdown of how many hires you made through these sources in the last 12 months. (doctors, dentists, nurses, AHP, Non-medical) • Please provide details about the fees paid to your agency partners, including the lowest fee, highest fee, and average fee. (over the last 12 months) • What was the total spend on permanent international hires over the last 12 months? | |
| Answer To Question 1: Please see attached spreadsheet To accompany this answer to question 1 please also see the documents listed below:  FOI 7989.xlsx | |
| Question Number 2: Recruitment Practices and Processes • Do you do any direct internal international recruitment? - If yes, what processes does the trust use to find and hire? - If yes, can you provide an example of the last time you did this, the number of hires you made, and how much it cost you? - If yes, which countries did you target? - If yes, what were the challenges of the experience? • How do you assess the qualifications and credentials of international candidates? • Do you have a minimum requirement for experience for international hires? (doctors, dentists, nurses, AHP, Non-medical) | |
| Answer To Question 2: Please see attached spreadsheet | |
| Question Number 3: Current and Future Hiring • Do you intend to continue to hire foreign-trained medical professionals? • What percentage of your staff are currently foreign-trained? • Would the trust benefit from an international agency with lower fees? • Does the trust have enough of a budget to hire all the staff they need? • Do you have a specific budget for international recruitment? If so, how much? • What is a breakdown of the open vacancies the trust currently has? (doctors, dentists, nurses, AHP, Non-medical) • Would the trust hire internationally for these vacancies? • Does the trust believe the number of vacancies will increase in the coming years? • Do you have any plans to support this? | |
| Answer To Question 3: Please see attached spreadsheet | |
| Question Number 4: . Recruitment Efficiency and Challenges • What is the average time to hire for international positions? • What are the main challenges your trust faces in recruiting international staff? • What support services do you provide to international staff to help them integrate into the UK and the NHS? - This can include language training, cultural orientation, and professional development. • What retention strategies does your trust employ for international staff? • How do you measure the success of your international recruitment efforts? • Do you collaborate with any educational institutions or professional bodies to support international recruitment? • What percentage of your total recruitment budget is allocated to international hiring? • Have you implemented any digital tools or platforms to assist with international recruitment? If so, which ones? • Are there any upcoming changes in your international recruitment strategy or policies? | |
| Answer To Question 4: Please see attached spreadsheet | |
| Question Number 5: Benefits and Support • What benefits do you offer international staff? (including but not limited to: free flights, initial accommodation, visa sponsorship, onboarding programs, test or qualification fees) • Who deals primarily with international hires? (person & department) | |
| Answer To Question 5: Please see attached spreadsheet | |
| Question Number 6: Visa and Immigration • What types of visas does the trust sponsor for international hires? • What is the average time taken to process visa applications for international recruits? • Are there any specific challenges the trust faces in securing visas for international staff? • Does the trust provide any assistance or support for international hires during the visa application process? • What percentage of international hires face visa rejections or delays, and how does the trust manage these situations? | |
| Answer To Question 6: Please see attached spreadsheet | |
| Please see Attachments: | |
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Our staff at SA¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½ Hospital have long been well regarded for the quality of care and treatment they provide for our patients and for their innovation, commitment and professionalism. This has been recognised in a wide range of achievements and it is reflected in our award of NHS Foundation Trust status. This is afforded to hospitals that provide the highest standards of care.
