How to work as a nurse in the UK

Achieving 7.0 in speaking and writing components of IELTS

Doing this in one sitting is impossible if not a miracle. In fact, most experience in resitting both parts will tell you that a 7.0 in the first test becomes a 6.5 in the next and vice versa. This is not only frustrating but also becomes an expensive enterprise where most nurses give up after failing several attempts. Since February 2016, the NMC accepts evidence of achieving at least a B grade in listening, reading, writing and speaking of Occupational English Test (OET).

Our solution
It is widely accepted that exam preparation is the best way to achieve required or desired results but there seems to be an exception with the IELTS because there is a strong evidence to suggest inconsistency and subjectivity with the scoring process. It is argued that IELTS’s speaking and writing favours the use of subjective criteria over objective criteria that may be measured objectively. Also, the band descriptors do not always place speakers’ and writers’ skills into a discrete band score descriptor.

Since the IELTS organisation is a collaborative joint venture between the British Council. Cambridge University and IDP Education Australia, we are able to legally challenge your score by way of Judicial Review against the two public bodies in the UK if there is a strong evidence that there has been irregularities in the conduct of your assessment process. Please note that this is different from requesting a review which in most cases prove not only to be a futile exercise but also a waste of time. You ask why are we able to do this and the answer is because this remedy is available within the UK’s legal system and therefore could be very helpful if you are an international nurse and sitting IELTS to work in the UK.

Obtaining your NMC decision letter in time.

Once all evidence of meeting the registration requirement has been received by the NMC, an assessment officer normally makes a decision within 60 days of receipt of all required documentation although timescales vary for each application. Delays occur when all the correct documents are not included with the initial application. Having worked as a nurse in countries other than your country of origin also causes delays because of the challenges in obtaining employment references and other required documents. However, there are cases when delays of up to over 6 months happens simply due to documents received but missing in the NMC.

Our solution
Our compliance team are experienced in ensuring you submit all the correct documents in the first instance, confirmation of receipt of your applications documents are obtained and that your application is being considered by a particular case worker and a decision will be made within a clear agreed timescale. The unique relationship our legal team has developed with the NMC international registration team makes the process and waiting time for obtaining decision letters a clockwork, avoiding unnecessary delays.

Securing your Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS)

This is an application made by your Sponsor to the Home Office in the UK and they have to meet certain requirements for the number of certificates to be granted. One of them is providing evidence that the applicant is eligible to under the relevant immigration rules for the nursing occupation. Delays happen when your information has been submitted by more than one sponsor because you have applied and been offered by several employers. Your agency has no control over this process and delays happen when one of the many rules are not met for this kind of requests.

Our solution
As we support most of our employers in their compliance duties which includes support in requesting and assigning CoSs, this process is streamlined and our legal team can guarantee your proposed Sponsor has available CoS and that one is assigned for you within two days from signing your offer letter.

The quality of OSCE training you will receive from your employer.

Imagine waiting around 12 months to enter the UK and find yourself failing OSCE because you did not have adequate training and preparation. You thought the training provided by your employer was enough but you still failed the examination for unfair and unknown reasons I the assessment process.

Our solution
There are no statistics available to know the actual reasons why there is a high percentage of candidates failing OSCE due to issues of confidentiality. We are the first training provider in the UK to have conducted examination preparation and candidates have come to us after failing OSCE to seek immigration advice. Our legal team has a strong track record of decisions being overturned, free exceptional resits being granted and obtaining NMC pin numbers on grounds of irregularities and inconsistencies in the assessment process. Our success rate is 100 percent in the last 8 months and we are not aware of any other firms that can match our expertise and experience in dealing with the NMC in respect of OSCE.

Termination of your employment and departure from the UK when you fail your OSCE.

The immigration rules provide that your sponsorship must be cancelled when you fail to obtain your NMC pin number within 8 months. However, the condition of your entry visa requires you to sit your OSCE within 3 months from entering the UK. Some sponsors end your employment immediately after failing OSCE but others may keep you until your 8th month. This is because of some grey areas which resulted from incorporating the overseas registration requirements of the NMC into the immigration rules.

Our solution
You will not find yourself in this position by using our service as we can guarantee you will pass your OSCE, obtain your professional registration (pin number) and therefore your immigration status will be protected. However, if you failed your OSCE and your employment and sponsorship are terminated we are able to provide you temporary accommodation, maintenance assistance and OSCE training allowing you to get through your reapplication period to resit OSCE and find a new Tier 2 sponsor.