Information for employers
Proud to Care South Gloucestershire is being co-ordinated by South Gloucestershire Council and is part of the Proud to Care South West campaign, aimed to support providers with recruitment and retention.
The regional and local Proud to Care campaigns direct people to the Proud to Care South Gloucestershire website. The site has been set up so that job seekers are able to search for providers within their local area. This process also directs users to your website job pages, allowing them to directly apply for current vacancies within your organisation.
In addition to support with recruitment, the Proud to Care team also provide retention support via signposting to training opportunities, wellbeing events and tools to support value-based recruitment and retention.
Employment Rights Act Webinar: Preparing your care business for key changes in 2027
The RWK Goodman Health & Social Care team invites you to an essential Employment Law Update webinar.
The Employment Rights Act represents the most significant change to employment law in over 50 years. With major reforms introduced in 2026 and further changes expected in 2027, now is the time to consider how these changes could impact your care business and what practical steps you should be taking to prepare
Join us to explore the key changes and practical steps your organisation should take to remain compliant and prepared.
Adult Social Care Workforce Survey 2026: Have Your Say
What’s it really like to work in adult social care?
If you work in adult social care, the Adult Social Care Workforce Survey 2026 is your opportunity to share your experience and help shape the future of the sector.
The survey asks about the things that affect your working life, including pay, workload, wellbeing, workplace experiences, training and development, and what makes you stay in or think about leaving adult social care.
There are no right or wrong answers – it’s about sharing your experience honestly, whether it’s positive, challenging or somewhere in between.
Your responses will provide valuable evidence to inform government thinking, policy and workforce support. The more people who take part, the stronger the picture of adult social care will be.
The survey takes around 20 minutes to complete and is being conducted by Ipsos, in partnership with Skills for Care and the University of Kent, on behalf of the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC).
Don’t assume someone else will tell your story.
The King's Trust Social Care Recruitment support
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The King’s Trust are proud to offer free training, mentoring, and funding opportunities designed to help young people begin meaningful careers in Health and Social Care.
Since 2019, they’ve supported thousands of 16 to 30-year-olds into roles across the Health and Social Care sector. By working closely with hundreds of hospitals, care homes, and healthcare organisations across the UK, they’ve helped place young people into vital entry-level roles such as care assistants, administrative support, and emergency call handlers.
They are keen to connect with more Social Care providers across BNSSG to support recruitment, meet growing workforce demands, and build a pipeline of passionate, skilled young professionals for the future.
If you are interested in collaborating with the King’s Trust to support recruitment, please contact proudtocare@southglos.gov.uk.
BNSSG Sponsorship Recruitment Scheme - Free Scheme for Care Providers
Care and Support West are working with Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire councils to offer support and advice to local care providers who have sponsor licences, or are in the process of applying.
What is the aim of this scheme?
Over recent months, Care and Support West has spoken to a number of providers who have sponsor licenses. From their feedback, many benefits were apparent. However, they also identified some challenges which highlighted that support is needed for both care providers and international workers.
In view of this, we have worked with our local BNSSG councils to put together a scheme which will give care providers who have a sponsor licence, or who have applied for one, access a range of offers to support for themselves and their international workers.
It will also provide ongoing feedback from care providers to Care and Support West and the three councils to help ensure that the support being offered is the most relevant and useful it could be.
The funding for this scheme has been made available from the government’s International recruitment fund for the Adult Social Care allocation to the BNSSG councils. This scheme has been running for over 18 months now, and will continue to run through to December 2026.
What support does the scheme offer?
- FREE webinars – with the latest information and sponsorship and immigration news
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FREE cultural awareness training for sponsored care workers
- FREE Virtual Support Network Sessions
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FREE monthly legal updates
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FREE access to 30 minutes individual advice from a specialist solicitor (subject to availability)
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FREE guidance from C&SW project staff about the support options available that could be best for your organisation
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FREE monthly newsletters
Sponsorship Recruitment - Knowledge webinars
We are pleased to announce that Lifted will continue to support our knowledge webinars up to the end of 2026, and are working with us to put together helpful and knowledgeable webinars to continue to support your sponsorship journey.
The next session for care providers is:
Self – Auditing your SMS and keeping your CoSs safe! – Thursday 15th October 10:00 – 11:30
Webinars from RWK Goodman
RWK Goodman are working with SW ADASS to provide a number of webinars to support care providers on their sponsorship journey over the next few months.
✅Please note that the sessions are not bookable, and therefore the links provided will take you directly to the Teams meeting on the day.
Self-Audit Training – 8 October 2026 10:00am to 11:00am | Webinar
With licence revocations within the sector on the increase, it is essential that providers are aware of their sponsor duties and review their systems and processes in advance of any compliance visit or request for information from the Home Office.
This session will include provision of a checklist for providers to use in carrying out an audit of their own compliance. The webinar will work through the checklist and provide practical guidance to help with checking things like recording keeping, right to work checks and general licence compliance.
Teams link: Self-Audit Training – 8 October 2026 10:00am to 11:00am
International Recruitment Q&A Session – 15 October 2026 12:00pm to 1:00pm | Online Discussion
An opportunity to raise any queries around international recruitment with the specialists from RWK Goodman. Potential areas for discussion may include right to work checks, pay challenges, sponsor duties, use of the SMS, challenges with CoS or recent Home Office changes.
Teams link: International Recruitment Q&A Session – 15 October 2026 12:00pm to 1:00pm
Compliance and Sponsor Duties – 29 October 2026 10:00am to 11:30am | Webinar
As a follow on to the self-audit training session, this webinar will provide more detailed information about sponsor duties and guidance on the key risk areas. With revocations and requests for information from the Home Office increasing, it is essential providers are fully compliant. The Home Office takes the view that sponsorship is a privilege not a right and non-compliance can lead to the licence being revoked.
Teams link: Compliance and Sponsor Duties – 29 October 2026 10:00am to 11:30am
Cultural Awareness Training
Do you have sponsored workers who could benefit from free additional support/training on delivering care in UK care sector?
Sponsored workers join your organisation with a range of caring skills which you need, but may have little experience of working specifically in the UK care sector. The way we deliver person centred care could be a new way of working or you may feel that they need some extra support with how they record care within your setting.
ASH Training are providing this FREE all-day training session to sponsored care workers across locations in Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire.
A certificate will be issued on completion of the training. As an accredited course – this training can be included as part of ongoing professional development for your sponsored workers.
What will the training cover?
- How we provide adult social care in the UK – general principles of social care, and relevant legislation, as well as the role of the NHS and CQC
- How we deliver care with dignity and respect – person-centred care with choice and consent
- How we deliver activities of daily living (ADLs) – positive relationships and professional boundaries
- How we communicate – the importance of good communication, and cultural awareness when we deliver care
- How we record the care given – accountability and duty of care, clear and accurate record keeping along with confidentiality
- How we support and care for people with specific support needs such as dementia, or learning difficulties
**New training dates coming soon**
What is the BNSSG Jobs Base and how can it help with recruitment?
The “Jobs Base” has been set up to put BNSSG care providers in touch with sponsored care workers who are looking for a new job. This might be because their employer’s licence has been suspended or revoked, or because their employer couldn’t provide enough hours.
Often they will have worked in care services in this country for a little while and have valuable skills and experience to benefit your business.
What do I need to do?
It’s very simple. You add the posts you want to fill to the Jobs Base for your local area and then the Jobs Base will share your details with sponsored care workers looking for a new role.
Care workers who are interested will contact you directly (with a unique reference number) and you would then assess their applications in the usual way. Do make the most of this opportunity to find care workers who could make a really positive contribution to your business and the people you care for.
How do I add a job to the Jobs Base?
To get started with Jobs Base, follow the link for the area(s) where you have a vacancy:
South Gloucestershire: South Gloucestershire Jobs Base
Bristol: Bristol Jobs Base
North Somerset: North Somerset Jobs Base
*Please only post a vacancy on the Jobs Base if you have a sponsor licence.*
Could the DASS process support your CoS application?
If you are looking to grow your workforce and hold a sponsor licence, you may be able to employ a sponsored worker who is seeking to change employer, switch visa route, or is a displaced worker looking for a new sponsor following the revocation of their previous employer’s licence.
These workers will require a new Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) to enable them to apply for a new visa.
You may already have a CoS available within your current allocation, or you may need to apply for an additional CoS to be added to your allocation.
✅ If you already have a CoS within your allocation, you must use this before applying for an additional CoS, even if you have an existing member of staff who may soon need to renew or extend their visa.
✅ Do not apply for a new CoS on a speculative or anticipatory basis. Applications should only be made where there is a genuine vacancy that needs to be filled.
What Is the DASS process?
The DASS process enables your local authority to support a new Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) application and help expedite its consideration by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI). However, using the DASS process does not guarantee that a CoS application will be approved.
The process can be used to support applications for new CoS’s in a range of circumstances, including renewals, sponsored workers joining your organisation, workers changing visa routes (such as students moving onto a Skilled Worker visa), and displaced workers seeking a new sponsor. It is not limited to displaced workers.
How to Apply for the DASS Process
If you would like to apply through your local authority’s DASS process, please use the relevant email address below:
Bristol: adultcommissioning@bristol.gov.uk
North Somerset: asc.contracts&commissioningteam@n-somerset.gov.uk
South Gloucestershire: displacedworkersupport.adultsocialcare@southglos.gov.uk
✅ Please include “DASS Process Request” in the email subject line and indicate that you would like to use the DASS process.
How Does the DASS Process Work?
Once you have informed your local authority (LA) that you would like to use the DASS process, you will be sent a letter requesting supporting information and evidence.
Once the evidence has been submitted, the LA champion will liaise with the Commissioning and Quality Assurance (QA) teams to verify the information provided. A recommendation will then be passed to the Director of Adult Social Services (DASS) and/or senior management for review and approval.
If approved, a letter of support will be sent to UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) to help expedite the application. UKVI will then assess the application; however, there is no guarantee that it will be approved.
✅ A letter of support from your Director of Adult Social Services (DASS) is preferred by UKVI.
If the application is not approved, the local authority will provide an outcome letter to both you and UKVI. Your CoS application will then continue through the standard application process.
What Information Do You Need to Submit?
Once you have notified your local authority (LA) that you would like to use the DASS process, you will be sent a letter requesting information.
To help you prepare, the BNSSG Sponsorship Scheme has set out the required information and application guidance in the document below.
Information Required for the DASS Process
What Is the Difference Between the DASS Process and the Priority Service?
The Priority Service is a paid-for service that can help expedite a CoS application. However, like the DASS process, it does not guarantee that an application will be successful.
The Priority Service reduces processing times compared with the standard application route, which currently takes up to 18 weeks.
✅ The DASS process is a free alternative to the Priority Service, developed specifically to support the Adult Social Care sector.
Employers Pack
In this pack we summarise:
- Proud to Care: recent and planned campaigns
- Market research: insight into what job seekers are looking for
- Resources: suggestions, materials and templates to help you market your vacancies using the power of your own social networks.
Why is retention so important within social care?
Skills for Care identified five factors that are key to retaining adult social care staff. They are:
- Being paid more than the minimum wage
- Not being on a zero-hours contract
- Being able to work full time
- Being able to access training
- Having a relevant qualification.
Where none of these factors apply, care workers are more than twice as likely to leave their jobs than when all five factors apply – a 48.7% turnover rate compared with 20.6%. Implementing these factors should make it easier for the people who love what they do to stay, by improving terms and conditions and investing in their career development.
What is value-based recruitment?
Value-based recruitment is an approach which focusses on recruiting people with values, behaviours and attitudes that align with those of the workplace.
View the Skills for Care, values – based recruitment toolkilt.
Values-based recruitment (skillsforcare.org.uk)
For tailored support, contact Skills for Care South Glos Locality Manager, Skills for Care locality manager covering South Gloucestershire.
How can I help to develop employees skills?
Investing in your people and nurturing their talents will help you tackle skills gaps and recruit and retain the right people. Skills West is a partnership between Business West and Western Training Provider Network (WTPN). Skills advisors provide free, impartial advice and can help negotiate the right training for your business, including access to government funding incentives.
Skills for Care can also provide advice and link you up with government workforce development funding. Contact Skills for Care South Glos Locality Manager for details.
Inspiring the next generation
Only 10% of the adult social care workforce is under twenty five. There are a range of opportunities to challenge misconceptions and attract more young people with the right values into care.
- Free, impartial Apprenticeship advice from Skills West
- Graduate Management Programme on Skills for Care
We work closely with local universities and education providers to encourage students to choose care and support work to supplement their income. By providing opportunities for students over evenings, weekends and holiday periods, you will be gaining a committed workforce that is willing to work when others ask for time off.
Provider search function
If you would like your organisation to feature within the Proud to Care search function, please email: proudtocare@southglos.gov.uk.
Once we update the site with your details, users will be able to access your live vacancies, directly via your website.