Help to find a job
Here you'll find details of organisations that can help you find work, prepare for interviews and understand your employment rights.
Help with a CV or interview support
Local authorities created mailboxes to support you if your employer has their sponsorship licence revoked or suspended. You can also use the mailboxes to ask for help with a CV or interview support as some authorities will provide this.
CV Library offers a free service for job seekers, including creating and downloading a CV. You can also search and apply for jobs on the platform for free.
Charity and volunteer organisations can also help with clothing and preparation for interviews. Support available in each area will vary.
These organisations usually need a referral from a local council or referring agency and proof of job interview.
Organisations include:
- Smart Works - supporting women with clothing and interview preparation support
- Suited & Booted - offering interview training, support and smart wear for unemployed or low-income workers. They offer support for men and support for women.
- Suited for Success - offering interview clothing and one-to-one job coaching support
- Timpson - offering a free dry-cleaning service for those attending interviews. The service is available across all 500 stores.
National Careers Service have online resources to support with:
- Writing CVs
- Preparing cover letters
- Completing applications
- Preparing for interviews
Care workers can also speak to a careers adviser at the National Careers Service if they need support with writing a CV.
Ethical recruiters list
The ethical recruiters list is managed by NHS employers. It is a comprehensive list of recruitment organisations, agencies and collaborations that operate in accordance with the Code of Practice.
Your employment rights
You may want to raise concerns if you feel you:
- Have been underpaid or not received money for hours worked
- Had money taken away from your pay
- Have a contractual repayment clause in your contract
The Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) gives employees free, impartial advice on workplace rights and rules. They can also help with dispute resolution.
You can get advice through its website and you can also call their helpline on 0300 123 1100. The helpline is open Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm.
Free and independent legal advice is available through Citizens Advice or by calling their Adviceline (England) on 0800 144 8848. They have also produced guidance and advice for those on a Health and Care Visa. This includes advice on when a carer loses their job.
Free legal advice is available through Law Centres. See the Law Centres Network website.
Justice and Care are a charity working with victims of slavery and human trafficking. They have developed information and guidance for international workers in the care sector. The guidance sets out details of:
- Employment rights
- Information on labour exploitation
- How to report concerns
Care workers can also join a trade union. Unions provide advice on employment rights and support with grievances or concerns with employers. A list of organisations is available on GOV.UK.
I want to leave the UK
You may choose to leave the UK voluntarily. If you don't have the means to do this, you may be eligible for support from the Home Office to leave the UK. See Get help to return home if you're a migrant in the UK.
If you are thinking about returning to your home country, get legal advice from an immigration adviser. This is so you are clear about the implications.
A list of regulated immigration advisers is available on GOV.UK's Adviser Finder. It includes details of advisers who do not charge fees.
Your local authority can also help you with this. If you do not know the name of your local authority, you can find its name using this tool on GOV.UK.
