International Recruitment Fund 2025/26

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) have announced a further £12.5 million International Recruitment Fund grant to local authorities. Worryingly, this is lower than the 2024/25 grant of £16m or the 2023/24 grant of  £15m.

DHSC have asked local authorities (formed into regional partnerships) to use this Fund to maintain the support regional partnerships have offered to international recruits that have been affected by their sponsor's licence being revoked. You can read the guidance for regional partnerships here.

As of 9 April 2025 care employers applying for Certificates of Sponsorship will need to provide evidence that they have tried to recruit from these regional partnerships before UKVI will issue them a Certificate of Sponsorship to recruit from abroad or from another visa route. For detailed guidance on these requirements please see the section beginning SK4.23 in the Sponsor a Skilled Worker guidance.

As well as providing support to displaced careworkers, regional partnerships may also use some of the funding to provide guidance to local care employers on ethical recruitment processes. In the past, this has taken the form of advice, training or mock inspections, for example. Keep an eye out for local initiatives, or enquire for details.