Finding jobs in the allied health professions

• NHS Jobs
• Health Jobs (commonly also known as Trac jobs)

You can search jobs by profession, job title, location, salary and areas of interest. If you have an idea of where you would like to work, you can also look at specific NHS trust websites.

International recruitment agencies can also help with finding jobs. There is a list of ethical recruiters who operate within UK government guidance.

There is a code of practice for ethical recruitment which means that recruitment agencies and the NHS cannot target recruitment from some countries as they have the most pressing health and care challenges. These countries are described as being on the 'red list'. However, direct applications can be made by individuals in these countries through the jobs websites.  You can check if your country is on the red list on the Code of Practice for International Recruitment website. 

Can I apply?

When searching for jobs, it's important to check that they are open to international applications. This will normally be shown in the job information – sometimes in the job title, but usually it will mention a Certificate of Sponsorship in the advert. Organisations may not offer all positions to international applicants as they need to be able to offer the necessary additional support such as sponsorship and preceptorship. If you are unsure you should contact the employer.

Is it the right job for me?

Once you have found jobs which may be appropriate, it is important to consider questions such as:

• is this job suited to me? 
• will I meet the essential criteria?
• is my experience relevant/can it be translated to this job?
• does the employer and location suit me, my needs and my values?
• am I clear about the pay and other rewards?

You can do this by looking at the job description which gives a wider description of the role and responsibilities, the person specification which will tell you the required characteristics (skills, knowledge and values) of applicants, and looking at the employer's website. Pay scales are standardised across the NHS using a banding system. Find more information about the pay and benefits of an NHS career.

You can also contact the employer (their details will be in the advert) about:

• what an average day is like
• what kind of person they are looking for
• what the team structure is and how it fits in the wider services/organisation

This will support your application, give you a connection to the employer and help you to decide if the role is suitable for you. Many employers encourage this as it shows you are serious about the role.

Whilst you may have experience in your profession, employers suggest you also consider preceptorship and development roles. Preceptorships are structured to help you transition into the NHS so you can become an independent healthcare professional in the UK. They can also support you in establishing you professionally in a different country or area of work.