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FAQs – Social Workers find an answer to
What type of employment
can I expect in the UK?
Jacaranda has permanent jobs in the social sector, working either
for the state (local government, also known as local authorities),
charities and private providers. We expect you to stay for 2 years
as minimum, occasionally we have fixed-term contracts for e.g. 1
year or 2 years. Many people stay for longer as career and promotion
opportunities are good in the UK.
SEE OUR JOBS OF THE MONTH FOR MORE DETAIL Do I have to have work
experience to apply for a job via Jacaranda?
Jacaranda welcomes applications from both experienced and newly qualified social workers, social pedagogues, educators and other appropriately trained social care professionals. Work experience is often an advantage, but we have placed many people who did not have post-qualifying work experience. Voluntary experience and experience during practical placements is also valuable. Determination, motivation and good English are very welcome! How much will I earn?
This will depend a lot on your qualifications, work experience and the type of work you do. All of our jobs are advertised with salaries, so take a look at Jobs of the Month. What about the cost of
living in the UK? Many people convert a salary in British pounds (£) into Euro and even work with the tax deduction they know in their own country. This is not relevant when you are moving country. It is essential to look at the taxation rate in the UK and cost of living in the UK when considering the salary of a job. When you get a job in the UK, you will be taxed in the UK and your costs will be here in the UK.
On average, you should deduct 25% of the gross salary (all jobs are presented with gross salary) to arrive at the net salary. (There is a higher rate of taxation which is applicable for salaries above £37,000). This 25% is your income tax, known as Pay As You Earn (PAYE) and National Insurance Contributions (NIC). Both of these are deducted by your employer. Basic health care is provided free of charge from the National Health Service (NHS). You can check the approximate net salary on http://www.listentotaxman.com/
The largest single cost is accommodation. Most people rent either
furnished or unfurnished properties. The cost of rent depends on
many things e.g. the number of bedrooms, the standard of décor,
garden, location – especially in relation to train station,
amenities e.g. park nearby.
Often utility bills are included in the shared room rates.
Utilities are costs such as electricity, gas, water etc
Things that are cheaper in the UK than e.g. Germany: car insurance, dry-cleaning, mobile phones, DVDs, sport venue fees e.g. tennis courts etc, no bank charges when in credit. So, remember to think in £ not in € when reviewing salaries! How will Jacaranda help
me get a job? Jacaranda does not charge you for this service. We receive a fee from the employers when you start work. Register with us Complete the online application form or send us a contact form through this website. We will send you “Jacaranda Tips” which gives information about the social system in the UK, hints and tips on writing good applications or CV, suggested reading and answers to many of your questions. At the same time we will suggest an appointment for a telephone interview. Telephone Interview We will ask you why you want to work here, assess your English level, ask questions about your work experience and your preferred area of work. We’ll talk about where in the UK you want to live and about your experience of living away from home before. It is nothing to be nervous about and there is no need to prepare for it. It takes 20 – 30 minutes. Events We run recruitment events in Germany and Sweden – this provides an opportunity to meet us in person. We email details of events to you. Don’t wait for an event to make contact with us because we are only able to visit some places once a year. Professional registration Some jobs require GSCC registration, some jobs don’t. Some qualifications are not eligible to register. “Jacaranda Tips” provides more detailed information and answers many of your questions. Register with us (via the online application form or the “Contact Us” form on this website) to get “Jacaranda Tips” and start the process. Send us your Curriculum Vitae (CV) Your CV in English will help us fully understand your qualifications, work experience and skills. Applying for a specific job We email job details frequently. When you see a job you like, follow the instructions on the advert. Usually this involves getting and reading more detailed information about the job and completing a specific application form. Feedback on application form We will give you feedback and you may want to make some changes. We have placed hundreds of European Social Workers in the UK and know what information employers need to see. Invitation to interview Sometimes we make the decision if you are invited to interview, sometimes the employer makes this decision. Sometimes you need to apply for several jobs before you are invited to interview. Preparation for interview We will tell you where you need to be and at what time, give you hints and tips on how to get there and how to arrange the logistics. We will also tell you what documents to bring to interview, about the dress code and how you can prepare. Interview coaching We will spend an hour on the phone with you, telling you about the interview methodology in the UK and asking you some sample questions. Attending the interview Interviews take place in the UK – you will cover the cost
of flight, travel and accommodation, unless you are informed otherwise
(some employers make a contribution to accommodation cost, but not
often). Usually the Jacaranda consultant you have been working with
will be at the interviews. Often interviews are in groups because
employers ask us to find them a number of staff. Job offer If all goes well, you will be made a job offer. Jacaranda informs you about this and guides you through the next steps. We start talking about the specific salary you will be offered and when you can start work. If you are not offered a job, we would look together at the reasons for this and work out a plan for next steps. Reference checking You will get very clear guidelines from us about what to do next. We collect certain documents from you and get contact information for your past employers. You will work with one Jacaranda colleague on this. CRB This stands for Criminal Records Bureau and is a more detailed
police-check. Everyone who works with vulnerable people needs to
have this check done. The requirements are very specific (e.g. you
provide your address details for the last 5 years and you have to
provide specific documents to prove your identity and address. We
will advise you about this later. Starting work A new job in a new country! Congratulations! It is a wonderful feeling, maybe mixed with nerves and apprehensions, but hundreds of people before you have done it – if you want to read some experience stories, just ask us. Christmas and Summer meetings Twice a year we hold meetings in London for you – you are welcome to come along with friends or colleagues and meet other people just like you have moved to the UK for a job in Social Work. It’s a time to share experiences and make friends. What is the GSCC?
The General Social Care Council is the guardian of standards for the social care workforce in England. The GSCC is responsible for keeping a register of qualified Social Workers. They also check that Social Work qualifications gained outside the UK are at least equivalent to the BA in Social Work in the UK. If you are applying for “qualified Social Work”, you will need to register with the GSCC. When you register with Jacaranda you will receive “Jacaranda Tips” which provides more information on the difference between “qualified Social Work” and other types of work – and whether or not you need to register with the GSCC. We also specify on all our job adverts if GSCC registration is required. There are Social Care councils in Wales, Northern Ireland, England and Scotland – they each have different names and you must be registered with the respective council if you intend to work in any one of the four countries, e.g. if you want to work in Wales, you must be registered with the Social Care Council for Wales. The General Social Care Council (GSCC) is the Council for England. The head office is in London with another office in Rugby. The aim of the GSSC is to increase the protection for service users, their carers and the general public by regulating the social care workforce. They ensure that work standards within the social care sector are of the highest quality. Do I need to apply for
GSCC registration? If you wish to work as a qualified Social Worker in the UK, it will be essential that you are registered with a Social Care Council before you start work. We always make clear on the Jacaranda job adverts if GSCC registration is needed. When you register with Jacaranda you will receive “Jacaranda Tips” which provides more information on the difference between “qualified Social Work” and other types of work – and whether or not you need to register with the GSCC. You can apply for GSCC registration at: www.gscc.org.uk . Make sure you download the international registration application pack if you qualified outside the UK. There is an application fee of £155 which is payable directly to the Social Care Council. Read the instructions in the website and in the pack very carefully and make sure you do not miss anything out. Applications with missing information will be returned to you and this will delay the registration process. Is the application process
different in the UK? Yes! When you register with Jacaranda we will send you Jacaranda Tips that gives more information on this. It is important to present information about your qualification, work experience, skills and knowledge in a way that can be understood by employers in the UK. Jacaranda Tips will help you with this. Will Jacaranda help me
prepare for my job in the UK? Yes! When you register with Jacaranda we will send you Jacaranda Tips which gives an overview of the social system in the UK and lots of suggested reading. We will also make sure you really understand the job you are applying for. If you are made a job offer, we will send you lots of information on the things you need to do before you can start work and the things you need to arrange when you get here. Are there career development
opportunities? Yes! Many of our candidates have done a lot of training within their jobs and many have been promoted. This will always depend on the employer, how well you do your job and what opportunities exist at the time you are ready to move on. If this is important to you, ask your recruitment consultant when applying for specific jobs. Can I recommend a friend?
Yes! We are always looking for good candidates, so we would be
more than happy to hear from your friends. We also have leaflets
and posters that you can pass on to friends or colleagues –
just ask us for some if you need them. |
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Contact Details First published in 2003 © Jacaranda Recruitment Ltd. 2008. All rights reserved. |