Frequently Asked Questions

You will be eligible to work for us in the UK if you have or can obtain one of the following:

Youth Mobility Scheme Visa: This scheme is for young people from participating countries who would like to experience life in the UK. The countries in the scheme now are Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Japan. Under the scheme, your national government is your sponsor. British overseas citizens, British overseas territories citizens and British nationals (overseas) can also apply under the scheme and do not need a sponsor. For more information go to: www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk

Ancestry Visa or Certificate of Entitlement / Right of Abode: If your parents or grandparents were born in the UK, and depending on certain rules, you can apply for either an ancestry visa which is usually valid for four years or a certificate of entitlement / right of abode which entitles you to work in the UK without restriction. You might need a letter confirming that you are looking for work here in support of your application for an ancestry visa and we would provide this if you prove suitable for work with our agency. For more information go to: www.ukvisas.gov.uk

EU Passport: If you hold an EU passport then you are able to work in the UK without restriction (except Bulgarians & Romanians).  For further details go to www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk

If you are a Bulgarian or Romanian national special rules apply please go to: www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk

No. If you have a work permit which states that you are allowed to work for a certain company in the UK then it is not transferable and you are limited to working in that job and for that company only. This includes the National Health Service.

Student visas limit you to working a maximum of 40 hours per week in the UK, which unfortunately would not allow you to work for us (our jobs require more than 40 hours per week). You are probably best contacting agencies that provide daily work as this is more likely to fit in with your visa. For more information go to: ukvisas.gov.uk

No. You need to contact your local embassy to find out whether you are entitled to a visa, and are responsible for applying yourself. The most we can do is provide a letter of support for an Ancestry visa, although this is at our discretion and is not given to everyone – we take into account the number of applicants we have at any particular time before saying whether we can issue a letter. For more information go to: www.ukvisas.gov.uk.

Trained nurses will have the necessary experience. Other people might have worked in rest homes, residential or nursing homes or for care agencies. Or you might have done some voluntary work with local charities, involving disabled or older people. Either way, we will need you to meet at least level two personal care experience as set out in our job description. If you do not have “hands on” experience then we recommend that you undertake it in a formal setting beforehand to increase your chances of obtaining work with us. Generally, we recommend 100 hours in a rest or nursing home (either paid or on a voluntary basis) and that, if possible, the experience gained be “signed off” as competent by a nurse in charge. You will also need to be able to cook to a reasonable standard, be a driver and have a good command of spoken and written English.

We do not have an age limit.  However, we don't have many carers working for us aged over 68 or under 21.   In addition, client car insurance makes it more difficult to find work for people aged under 25.

You will need to undergo a successful interview and we need to receive three satisfactory references before we can discuss work with you. You will also need to complete our 4 ½ day induction training before you can be placed in a position. Our current training schedule is available upon request. When you have been accepted for our induction training, please contract us BEFORE you book your flight over if you are applying from overseas, so that we can secure you a place.

We hold interviews by appointment in various locations throughout New Zealand, South Africa and Australia. Otherwise, we hold interviews on most days here in the UK.

At present we ask that applicants are available for a minimum of 12 weeks. You do not have to work the 12 weeks all in one go. Shorter periods of work are sometimes available for registered nurses.

Most of our jobs need drivers and, as such, we only take on people who possess a valid driving licence, preferably for manual cars. If you are a non-driver, then you are likely to have more success with agencies based in London as the public transport there makes a driving licence less essential.

We offer free dormitory style accommodation (conditions apply) while care givers do their induction or update training and welcome care givers and nurses at any time of the year.   But we are often very short of staff in our autumn, winter and early spring months – September, October, November, December, January, February and March. Double rates are paid for Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day, Easter plus Spring and Autumn public holidays.  In addition, most agencies have a lot of staff looking to work in our summer months.

You can earn between £5966 and £7271 (inclusive of basic pay and holiday pay) for 12 weeks’ work. From time-to-time we have higher paying specialist placements.

We offer free accommodation all year round when care givers do their induction or update training.

New Care Givers - up to 5 nights free dormitory style accommodation plus full cooked English breakfast, £15 towards travel costs from London to Oxford, and a refund of the UK police check fee after working 12 weeks on assignment with us (conditions apply). 

Returning Care Givers - up to 3 nights free dormitory style accommodation plus full cooked English breakfast, £15 towards travel costs from London to Oxford and a free UK police check if needed (conditions apply).

In addition we offer double pay rates for Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, Easter plus Spring and Autumn public holidays. Accommodation arrangements.

We have special arrangements with YHA and Backpackers in Oxford so that you can stay there if you are in between jobs if you haven’t got a UK address.

Yes. Your weekly pay will be paid straight into your account by the BACS system. However, it can be very difficult for someone newly arrived from overseas to open a bank account until they have a UK address. If possible it is best to open an account through your own bank at home. However, HSBC Bank in the UK is offering a passport account to overseas workers. For further information go to www.hsbc.co.uk/passport. Alternatively, we can supply you with a letter of introduction to the bank of your choice as soon as you start work on assignment with us.

Yes. You must complete a UK enhanced police check (known as a CRB) and pay the current fee.  We will refund the fee to you after 12 weeks working on assignment with us.  If you are from overseas then it is usually possible to apply for your UK police check at the same time as your interview.  In any case, and wherever possible, we strongly advise that you apply for your UK police check well in advance of your departure for the UK.  This should allow for it to be cleared in time for starting work with us.  Otherwise, if you apply for it not long before you leave, or if you have to complete it when you arrive in the UK, then there is a slight (1 in 250) risk that it might be held up and prevent you from obtaining work.

In addition, overseas applicants are also required to bring a FULL police check from home dated within three months of arriving in the UK.  Please note:  Australian and South African applicants must obtain a National Police Clearance Certificate based on fingerprints and name check.  Local Australian or South African police clearances are not acceptable. 

Obtaining a police check from your home country

Australia

We will require a National Police Clearance Certificate based on fingerprints and name check. Local police clearances are not acceptable. For further information contact:-

Australian Federal Police, Criminal Records Branch, Locked Bag 1, Weston ACT 2611, Australia Tel: (0) 2 6256 7777 or Fax: (0) 2 6287 0603 www.afp.gov.au then go to Employment & Services then go to Services.

New Zealand

All the information and application forms are provided on www.justice.govt.nz. Click on “Services” and then select “Get a Copy of Your Criminal Record” from the drop down menu. You must apply to the Ministry of Justice in writing by completing the appropriate form. You can download the form from the website or have it sent to you by writing to:

The Privacy Unit, Ministry of Justice, National Office, PO BOX 2750, Wellington, New Zealand Or by calling + 64 (4) 918 8800 or fax +64 (4) 918 8974.

South Africa

Police clearance certificates can be applied for at any police station. Fingerprints will also be done there. The application form, together with fingerprints will then be forwarded to the Central Registry for processing. Contact your local police station for more information.

For other countries contact us or conduct a Google Search for information.

We always need to recruit experienced carers and nurses at any time of the year but we are often very short of staff in our autumn, winter and early spring months – September, October, November, December, January, February and March. Double rates are paid for Christmas day, Boxing Day, New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day, Easter plus Spring and Autumn public holidays. We also offer incentives and bonus schemes.

Coming from Heathrow or Gatwick Airports, Oxford Bus Company run a 30 minute service from Heathrow and an hourly services from Gatwick. Telephone ++ 44 1865 785400 or go to: www.oxfordbus.co.uk for current timetables.

Coming from London, first find your way to Victoria Coach Station, and catch the Oxford City Link X90 to Oxford. There is a 15 minute service and it takes bout one and three-quarter hours to reach Oxford, depending on the traffic.

Stay on the bus all the way until the last stop in Gloucester Green bus station, which is at the end of George Street in the centre of Oxford. Come out of the bus station and cross over Geoge Street to the bus stop opposite.  From this bus stop (A5) you can catch number S1 (destination either Witney or Carterton) and ask to be put off at Elms Parade.  About 25 yards ahead of you at the end of the parade of shops you will see the Barclays Bank building.  We are above Barclays Bank and our doorway is at the left hand end of this building (Suite B Hinksey Court West Bay Botley Oxford OX2 9JU). 

If you arrive by train at Oxford Rail Station then come out of the station and cross Park End Street.  There are a number of bus stops. Catch either the S1 or 4A which go out of Oxford along the Botley Road to Elms Parade. Alight at Elms Parade and continue as above.