Life & Health

A bilateral agreement signed between Nepal and the UK government has paved the way for recruitment of Nepali nurses into the UK’s health system for the first time.

Officials say up to 10,000 Nepali nurses will benefit - but the candidates will need to wait for some more time as the govenments are yet to complete some more preparatory works.

The application process will begin after the finalisation of an implementation protocol by both governments. British ambassador to Nepal Nicola Pollitt tweeted that the deal will benefit the health sectors of both countries.

What’s even more attractive is the offer that successful Nepali nurses will not need to pay a single rupee for the recruitment, which is said to guarantee the same benefits as British nurses.

According to public information available on the website of the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security, here’s all you need to know if you are keen on landing a UK nurse job:

Who is eligible

The two governments are still working to prepare an implementation protocol. But officials say following eligibility criteria could be included in that protocol:

a. Nepali citizen aged between 20 and 45 and holding a valid Nepali passport

b. Completed one of the following academic qualifications: Staff Nurse, Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSc), or Bachelor of Nursing (BN), or Master’s Degree in Nursing from an institution recognised by the government of Nepal

c. Hold an active professional licence from the Nepal Nursing Council plus at least two years of experience in a registered hospital in Nepal

d. English language to a UK-regulated level (IELTS-7 or OET-B) through a test to be undertaken:

• For IELTS, candidates require an overall score of 7, with a minimum score of 7 in each band apart from writing with the minimum score of 6.5

• For OET, candidates require at least Grade B in reading, writing and listening sections, and Grade C+ in the writing section.

e. Passed a job interview (either online or in person) and been offered a job in the UK

f. Application with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC/UK) has been made

g. Successfully completed the required medical check-ups

h. Subsequently completed the Computer Based Test (CBT) of the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC/UK) application process to be undertaken in Nepal

Further details about the criteria will be available on the Department of Foreign Employment’s website once the application process is initiated.

Who can apply?

Any prospective candidate who meets the eligibility criteria can apply. Equal opportunities shall be ensured to all eligible candidates. However, the prospective candidates should pass a set of eligibility tests carried out in Nepal and the UK.

How to apply?

Applicants who fulfil the eligibility criteria shall need to submit all required documents into the Department of Foreign Employment (DOFE)’s online platform.

Details on the recruitment process, the initiation date for the application process, as well as other related information will be posted on the Ministry’s website - www.moless.gov.np/en/page/ukhealth-care

Costs?

Successful nurses can travel to the UK without paying a recruitment fee for the process, and the main costs associated with the recruitment purpose will be reimbursed or paid for by the British government.

IELTS or OET

The nurses to be recruited should pass the language test. Both IELTS and OET are accepted as proof of English Language proficiency for employment in the UK. The OET and IELTS differ as IELTS uses language relevant to all employment sectors, whilst OET tests language specific to the health and care sector. It is up to the candidate to decide which test they prefer to sit.

Test venue

The British Council Nepal offers paper and computer-based IELTS tests options. IELTS on paper Test is available in six official IELTS test centre locations across Nepal - Biratnagar, Birtamod, Butwal, Chitwan, Kathmandu and Pokhara. IELTS on computer is only available in Kathmandu. IELTS on paper at above centres costs NPR 25,300 and IELTS on Computer at the centre costs NRs. 23,650.

OET on Paper Test is available at Universal Language & Computer Institute, Kathmandu and Chitwan Medical College, Bharatpur. OET on Computer Test is available at Fulbright Commission in Nepal, Kathmandu. The costs relating to the OET test is NRs 35,000.

Candidates that are selected and offered an employment contract will be refunded for the above successful test fees by the Department of Health and Social Care designated entity/ NHS Trust.

Application process

The application process shall entail the following steps:

a. Online Application: Applicant fulfilling eligibility criteria and conditions creates an individual profile on the platform prescribed by the Department of Foreign Employment. Applicants must submit all the required documents into the online platform as instructed on the webpage that will be subsequently processed for review. The online platform will be available only when the application process begins.

b. Preliminary list: The preliminary list of all eligible candidates will be reviewed by the Department of Health and Social Care’s designated entity. The designated entity reserves the right to accept or reject any applicant who is listed in the preliminary list.

c. Document Verification: Applicants that are shortlisted by the Department of Health and Social Care’s designated entity, will be notified by the Department of Foreign Employment.

Shortlisted candidates must be physically present at a prescribed location on a specific date and time for document validation. Applicants submitting illegitimate and counterfeit documents will be automatically disqualified and will be ineligible to apply for any of the advertised positions under the MoU.

d. Final List for Screening, Interview and Selection: Department of Health and Social Care’s designated entity will undertake screening, interview and selection.

e. Conditional Job Offer and Standard Employment Contract: Department of Health and Social Care’s designated entity, will convey to the Department of Foreign Employment conditional job offers for selected candidates. The candidate offered a conditional job offer shall sign a Standard Employment Contract (SEC) with the support of the Department of Health and Social Care designated entity.

Health certificates

Upon receipt of a conditional job offer, candidates will be requested to complete an online Occupational Health Assessment form and undertake a pre-departure medical test as part of the UK Visa process at those Nepali medical institutions that are recognised by the Department of Foreign Employment for foreign employment purposes.

CBT tests

This exam can be taken online at home, pre-departure to the UK. The Department of Health and Social Care’s designated entity will support candidates to take the CBT examination, providing free preparation materials.

The UK visa

The Department of Health and Social Care’s designated entity will issue a visa recommendation letter to candidates who have signed the Standard Employment Contract. The candidate should apply for a visa to the nearest visa application centre within seven days of receipt of the recommendation letter.

The designated entity will support the candidates to complete the visa form and with face-to-face appointments required for securing the visa.

Successful candidates shall be offered the position of a Health Care Assistant. 

While the information is for indicative purposes, detailed activities will be outlined and agreed upon in the Implementation Protocol to be finalised between Government of Nepal and the Government of the United Kingdom, states a document released jointly by the Nepal Government and UK government on recruitment of Nepali nurses to serve in the health sector in the UK.

“We are yet to finalise implementation protocols,” said Dr Thaneshwor Bhusal, assistant spokesperson at the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security.