International Mental Health Nurses

Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust emphasises the quality of our services. We acknowledge that a diverse workforce brings a broad range of backgrounds, experience, skills and shared cultural beliefs. That is one of the reasons we are excited to welcome internationally educated nurses with expertise in mental health. The NHS has always benefited from overseas recruitment and nurses from other countries living and working in England.

Working as an International Mental Health Nurse for Leeds and York NHS Partnership Foundation Trust will see you providing care and support for our service users. We aim to help everyone live free from stigma and discrimination and improve the lives of people with learning disabilities and mental ill-health. Part of your role as a Mental Health Nurse is to build relationships with service users and provide support for them, their families and their carers.

We seek to deliver effective, safe, high-quality care that meets our service users’ needs. Ensuring we provide a positive and supportive experience for those who use our services and their carers. Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust serve the diverse communities of Leeds and York, and we are proud that our workforce is highly diverse. We aim to consistently deliver inclusive services and meet the needs of our diverse communities. Make every effort to ensure that individuals are valued and treated with respect and dignity.

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Pastoral Care Quality Award

We are delighted to be accredited with the International Nursing and Midwifery NHS Pastoral Care Quality Award. The award is a testament to our commitment to providing pastoral care that NHS England has approved as the definitive set of standards for Trusts to protect the welfare of internationally educated colleagues. We are committed to providing a warm and welcoming arrival to the UK, Leeds, and York and their respective teams at Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust.

The Trust achieved the accreditation by having a dedicated pastoral support lead who offers advice and information pre-arrival, a welcome to Leeds and York upon arrival through visits to the city, arranging accommodation and ensuring they are safe and settled as they begin their new role. We also provide a comprehensive welcome pack with everything you need to know about relocating to the UK.

This accreditation ensures that we continue to offer a high-quality pastoral care programme and set the best standards in pastoral care for internationally educated colleagues who have moved overseas to the UK to work for Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust.

Bridget Chingomas’ story

Are you a qualified Mental Health Nurse living outside of the United Kingdom? Would you like to join our organisation? Please learn more below on what is required to be a registered nurse in the UK (United Kingdom).
Requirements to register as a Nurse in the UK

Step 1 English Language test

You can meet the NMC (Nursing and Midwifery Council) & Immigration English level requirements by either one of the following:  

  • English Language Test System (IELTS (International English Language Testing System)) – IELTS Academic overall score of at least 7.0. Each section should be at least: 6.5 in writing and 7.0 in reading, listening and speaking

OR

  • OET (Occupational English Test) with a score of 350 (B) in reading, listening, and speaking and a 300(C+) in writing

From early 2023, the NMC will introduce new minimum English language test scores. The latest changes will result in standardisation of the accepted minimum scores when combining test scores and extending the period this applies. More information on this is available on the NMC website.  

Step 2 Initial NMC registration

When you have met your English requirements, you register with the NMC and complete a self-assessment declaring that you meet all the requirements to join the NMC register.

You must upload your Passport, Qualification and Registration information to the NMC website.

For more information on the NMC registration requirements, see here. Once you have completed this verification, you will receive an invite to register with Pearson Vue to take your CBT (Computer Based Test).

Step 3 NMC Test of Competence part 1 for Mental Health (CBT)

Once you have passed the NMC eligibility assessment, you can sit your RMN computer-based test (CBT) of theoretical practice-based knowledge. The CBT is split into two parts: Part A covers numeracy, and Part B covers clinical questions. The test can be taken in test centres around the world. Click here for more information on CBT.

When you have passed your Mental Health CBT, we can sponsor you to work for us in the UK.

Step 4 Completing NMC final registration.

You will then provide health declaration, police clearances and English language evidence before arriving in the UK. These documents MUST be uploaded to your account before you fly to the UK.

Eligibility for Interview

  • You should have a qualification in mental health nursing
  • You should have at least 12 months of recent mental health clinical experience
  • You should already have passed the English Language tests, either IELTS or OET
Arriving in the UK

Your Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) with the Home Office will be issued once we have all of the following: 

  • Evidence of your English Language pass 
  • CBT test results 
  • Completed application to the NMC

You will need your CoS to then apply for your work VISA. When you receive your VISA granting you permission to work in the UK, we will arrange your travel and pay for your flights to the UK.

OSCE (Objective Structured Clinical Examination) Training

When you arrive in the UK, you must book the second part of your assessment (we will book this for you). This is a practical examination called an OSCE (Objective Structured Clinical Examination), which is the second part of the NMC Test of Competence. This will act out scenarios nurses are likely to encounter when assessing, planning, carrying out and evaluating care.

Your continued right to work depends on you passing the NMC Test of Competence Part 2 – OSCE within three months of UK arrival.

We have partnered up with an external, residential OSCE preparation facility where you will be supported to prepare for your OSCE examination with tailor made tuition. The OSCE training takes between 4 and 6 weeks.

You can take the OSCE in the following places (speak to us about booking a course):

  • Oxford Brookes University. 
  • The University of Northampton. 
  • Ulster University. 
  • Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
  • Northumbria University.

You can find more information about the NMC Test of Competence and the test providers here.

NMC registration 

Once you pass your OSCE, you will receive your NMC registration, and your VISA is valid. At this point, your salary will change as you will move up to Band 5 (£25,655 – £31,534)

Why join us

We offer a comprehensive relocation package which includes the following:

  • Band 4 Salary pre-OSCE and Band 5 post-OSCE on receipt of NMC pin
  • Certificate of Sponsorship
  • Immigration Skills Charge payable to UK Government
  • Visa 3 years and NHS surcharge
  • Flight to the UK
  • Tailor made tuition to get you ready for the OSCE exam
  • Support towards NMC OSCE Exam and travel costs
  • Accommodation Support 
  • Comprehensive induction and transition programme to help you integrate into clinical practice 
  • Continuous Professional Development support 
  • A range of training and development opportunities. Click here for more information
  • Strong pastoral support to help you settle into the country by helping open up bank accounts, collect Biometric Residence Permit cards (BRP) and register with a doctor. Help to bring your family to the UK and find long-term accommodation, amongst other things.

A group of four international nurses, wearing casual wear, are sat on a sofa, all smiling at the camera. A group shot selfie photo of A group of four international nurses, wearing casual wear, all smiling at the camera.

Code of Practice for International Recruitment

Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust are committed to ethical recruitment practices, and we fully adhere to the Code of Practice for international recruitment of health and social care personnel in England.  

As such, we cannot recruit candidates from countries named on the World Health Organisation’s list of 47, including Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya and Pakistan. Full details of the Code of Practice and the standards we follow can be found here.

Contact us

If you have any questions or you would like more information, please do not hesitate to contact our International Nurse Recruitment Team at pldt.lypft@nhs.net