Every year, many doctors and healthcare workers from other countries come to the UK hoping to work in the NHS. For many of them, succeeding is as important as arriving. That’s why NHS England created the International Retention Toolkit. This toolkit shows that keeping these workers is now a priority.
Why the Retention Toolkit Matters to IMGs
Many internationally trained doctors worry more about what happens after getting a job than about securing one. They often ask:
– Will I feel settled in a new country?
– How long will it take to find a place to live, set up a bank account, and get support for my family?
– Will I be able to advance in my career, or will I stay at a mid-level position forever?
– Will I feel included, heard, and respected in the culture?
The Retention Toolkit answers these questions through its four main areas. It shows that we want you to stay for the long term, and we are here to help make that happen.
The Four Pillars of the NHS International Staff Retention Toolkit
The NHS International Staff Retention Toolkit offers practical advice to help healthcare organisations support internationally recruited staff. The goal is to make these staff members feel valued, included, and empowered to succeed. The framework is based on four key pillars:
1. Creating Strong Foundations
This pillar focuses on preparing for new staff before they arrive in the UK. It includes engaging with them early, making welcome calls, and providing welcome packs with information about the UK, the organisation, and the local area. Mapping their skills and qualifications ensures they get credit for their previous experience. Support with living costs, housing, and orientation helps them transition smoothly and feel appreciated from the start.
2. Making New Recruits Feel Welcome
This pillar emphasises the importance of supporting staff when they first arrive. It includes providing pastoral care, setting up buddy systems, and offering practical help for settling in, such as how to open bank accounts, register with a GP, access public transport, and join local services. Organising social activities and integration support helps staff feel included in both their personal and professional lives.
3. Building Belonging
This pillar focuses on creating a sense of belonging in the workplace. Key strategies include cultural awareness training, celebrating cultural events, providing safe spaces for feedback, and encouraging personal and professional integration. Building social networks and promoting peer support not only increases well-being but also helps staff feel part of the team and the organisation.
4. Maximising Personal and Professional Growth
The final pillar is about supporting career development for internationally recruited staff. This includes having regular career discussions, providing coaching and mentoring, offering leadership programs, and accessing further education. Ensuring financial well-being, recognising previous experience, and creating structured development plans help staff achieve their career goals, leading to higher job satisfaction and retention.
How the Toolkit’s Four Pillars Mirror Remedium’s Approach
Here’s how we see our services lining up with the NHS’s intentions — and how we want you to benefit:
1. Creating Strong Foundations
We provide a digital relocation platform called Red Carpet to help candidates with their move to the UK. Our platform guides you through paperwork, finding accommodation, setting up a bank account, and other important tasks. Our goal is to reduce your stress, prevent dropouts, and ensure that you arrive in the UK with much of the important work done.
We work with the Trust to make sure essential administrative tasks are completed before your first day.
2. Making New Recruits Feel Welcome
Every candidate has a dedicated Onboarding Executive (OBE) who will guide you through visas, flights, local orientation, and settling in. We will continue to check in with you after you arrive. We’ll introduce you to local networks and help you transition smoothly by providing information about local services, neighbourhoods, and social contacts.
3. Building Belonging & Cultural Inclusion
We connect internationally recruited clinicians to peer networks and diaspora groups to help them integrate. We believe that recruitment is about people, not just jobs. It’s important to recognise culture, provide emotional support, and create a sense of home. We also promote training and awareness in cultural sensitivity for everyone involved, so misunderstandings do not create barriers.
4. Maximising Personal & Professional Growth
Remedium helps doctors advance their careers by guiding them in exam preparation and navigating clinical exams and assessments. Our resources, mentorship, and personalised advice to help you aim for senior roles instead of just getting by in your current position. We keep you connected to job opportunities and support your long-term goals, not just your immediate needs
What Clinicians Should Take From This
Join the NHS with confidence — we offer more support than ever. You are not just a recruit; you are a future leader, and your growth is important. With Remedium, you will receive support from the start, during your onboarding, and as you build your career. If you face challenges, remember that there are teams both within the NHS and through Remedium who want you to succeed and feel like you belong.
Why This Matters to NHS Trusts Too
Hiring and keeping international staff saves money and strengthens your team. When you work with Remedium, you can focus on keeping staff instead of just hiring them. Tools like Red Carpet and custom onboarding can help reduce dropout rates and build a stable team with long-term employees. Supporting the NHS Retention agenda shows you care and positions you as a modern employer.
Take the Next Step in Your NHS Journey
At Remedium, we help internationally trained doctors move to the UK and succeed in the NHS. We assist with relocation through Red Carpet, provide guidance from dedicated Onboarding Executives, and support your career growth every step of the way. Our goal is to prepare you for success.
The NHS offers a great chance to grow, make a difference, and be part of a top healthcare system. Let us help you take the first step — or the next step — in your NHS career. Register with Remedium today and begin your journey to a fulfilling and supported career in the UK.
