Leading Scottish care home operator Balhousie Care Group is getting creative in its search for nurses by recruiting from Ghana and India.

Balhousie said a combination of Brexit, post-pandemic burn-out and sickness was hitting providers hard when it came to filling vacancies.

Bringing overseas recruits is costly and can be complicated, however, with Balhousie putting them through the required training to comply with nursing regulations while also dealing with immigration requirements.

Resourcing manager Jordan Russell, who heads up Balhousie’s recruitment, helps overseas recruits settle into their new surroundings by providing support with finding accommodation.

“We’re fully aware that this is a huge move for overseas staff and as a company we need to do everything to make that transition as smooth as possible,” said Russell.

Recent recruit Solomon Oteng works as a nurse at Balhousie Pitlochry care home.

“I came here because the pay is better and so are the training and careers prospects. Scotland is beautiful – so clean and so green,” Oteng said. “And through my work at Balhousie Pitlochry I get to understand the ageing process and how to deal with age-associated challenges.”

As well as sourcing nurses from overseas, Balhousie Care Group is talking directly to universities and adapting its marketing messages to appeal to people who may have retired from the NHS and/or want flexible working options.

If you are interested in joining Balhousie you can contact [email protected] or view their  vacancies here.