You already did the first (and important) step on your way to find a job in the social work sector in the UK. You are on our website …

What do you need to consider when applying for a job through Jacaranda?

• Qualification

We have placed candidates with a qualification in social work, social pedagogy and pedagogy as well as people with a qualification as an educator or in special health (working with people with disabilities) and similar. Our job opportunities indicate what qualification you need to have - take a look at our jobs in social work. Please note it is very unlikely we will be able to help if you do not have one of the above mentioned qualifications.

• English language

• Willingness to commit for 2 years
  

Most of our jobs are permanent job opportunities. Employers therefore usually do not expect you to hit the ground running and put energy and resources to give you relevant training. It also takes some time for you to adjust to a new job (and potentially a new country) before you work efficiently.

What do you need to be successful?

• Energy and motivation
  

Like changing your job in your own country, starting a new job abroad requires some paperwork and energy. Especially jobs in the social work area tend to have more vigorous procedures, which can sometimes take a bit more time. Usually you need a CRB (Criminal Record Bureau) - similar to a home country police check - before starting a job working with vunerable service users (like children or people with disabilities). Check with us about your individual time frames. Need some extra motivation? Check our video and learn about people who found a job through Jacaranda.

• Experience
  

Although direct experience in the area you want to apply for is always an advantage, it often is not a necessity. Transferable experience and skills can also be important factors to help and support your application. Please note that experience from internships or practical placements and voluntary work will also be taken into account if relevant.

• Registration with the GSCC (if necessary)
  

A registration with the General Social Care Council is necessary when you want to work in statutory social work, for example, Children or Adults’ Services. You need to have a relevant qualification in social work and 130 days of supervised practice in a social work relevant field to get a registration. Please check the Country Assessment Guidelines, if you are unsure. Not all jobs require a registration - please check out the job description or ask us directly.

Important note: You cannot start a job in statutory social work without being registered (you can attend an interview before registration), so we strongly recommend working on your registration as early as possible.

Next steps

If you fulfill the requirements, fill out our contact form and wait for us to get in touch with you. Usually, you will get a welcome email asking for a time we can contact you for a brief chat about your experience, your plans and to assess your level of English. Furthermore, you will receive the Jacaranda Tips, which contain a lot of useful information as well as hints and tips.

At some point, we will ask you to provide us with a good CV (Curriculum Vitae) in English. Please check on how to write a CV according to the British standards. Ideally, please attach it when contacting us in the first place.

We are looking forward to hearing from you.