UK’s beloved National Health Service (NHS) is one of the world’s leading healthcare systems,providing high-quality care that is freely accessible to everyone in the UK. Working in the NHS as an overseas nurse isn’t only about pride but also has its own perks you will have the respect of the nation, with a handsome pay and other benefits.By partnering with RADASS limited, you’ll get help with every aspect of the move to the UK.
A rewarding pay scale
As an overseas nurse in the NHS, you will be rewarded with a Band 5 Staff Nurse salary. The salary will be in the range of £22,128 to £28,746 — depending on where you live and work in the UK. You will be able to live comfortably, with enough money to save and spend on the people and things you care about. In addition to the basic pay, there is also extra pay for staff who work in high-cost areas such as places in and around London.
Career Development
There are many routes a nurse can take when it comes to career progression, and what is even better is you can gain first-hand experience before deciding on the path you wish to take. Specializations in nursing are endless, you can choose from many areas such as emergency care, anaesthetics, midwifery, neonatology, orthopaedics, fertility to surgery. You even have the option of moving into a management role, advanced practitioners and consultant nurses where they have the option to prescribe medicine to patients. As a nurse, every day will be unique and you will learn something new and invaluable all the time. There are also opportunities to work on research projects and be involved in new innovations. You will be exposed to a variety of healthcare settings, including hospitals, clinics, nursing homes and outpatient healthcare settings, which will help to keep your work varied, interesting and increase your learning and development.
A Perfect work life balance
Every overseas nurse working in the NHS will have a standard working week of 37.5 hours, affording you a healthy work-life balance. However, if you want to work extra hours, you will be rewarded with pay enhancements for every hour of overtime you work. If a nurse chooses to work on bank holidays and Sundays, s/he will be paid 60 per cent more, while those who opt to work nights and Saturdays will be paid 30 per cent more. Once you have gained six months’ experience within the NHS you will also have the option to register with a recruitment agency to gain new experiences and extra money.
A guaranteed long-term contract
Working in the NHS as an overseas nurse, you will be given an initial three-year contract. This gives you the long-term financial security you need to move to, and live in the UK. Also, these contracts often get renewed; with some international nurses working in the same NHS trust for well over a decade.
ILETS/OET and Visa expenses, flight cost
An overseas nurse working in the NHS is mandated to pass either the IELTS Academic English language test (comprising of writing, reading, speaking and listening tests), or the OET English language test.The initial cost for the exam you opt for will be paid by yourself, however, many of our NHS clients provide a refund for one of the language tests taken would be paid together with your first month’s salary.
If you are new to the NHS, and you are arriving from outside of the European Union, you will need to apply for a visa that permits you to work in the UK legally and safely. This can often come with significant expense. Fortunately,NHS will pay for your visa costs.
Paid Flight charges, Training and Leaves
As an overseas nurse new to the NHS, you will need to undertake a two-part competency test, which is paid for by our clients. The first part is a computer-based test (CBT) which tests your theoretical nursing knowledge and is completed before you arrive in the UK.
When you come to the UK as a new overseas NHS nurse, your flights will be paid for by our NHS client. Post which the second part of competency test, the objective structured clinical examination (OSCE). This tests your practical skills and will be taken when you arrive in the UK which is also paid for by our clients.
A healthy pension scheme
The NHS offers one of the most comprehensive pension schemes in the UK. As a new NHS nurse, you will be automatically enrolled from day one. Protected against inflation and guaranteed by the government, your pension contributions, which lie between 7.1% and 9.3% depending on starting salary — are amongst the most secure in the UK, providing you with a healthy and vibrant retirement or second innings of your life
More information on the NHS salary, pay, benefit click on the link NHS