Some time in September 2022, I successfully interviewed for a Band 8 role. It was a secondment. I was excited. I've seen or heard of colleagues who've gone for secondments. It happens a lot in the NHS, its straightforward. It tends to happen relatively swiftly. 
So I was busy obliviously dreaming of starting my new job 'soon'. Then HR conversations started! It turned out that because I am on a work visa, the Home Office rules do not allow for someone on a skilled worker visa to be seconded to another organisation.
There's a lot of data stating that BAME representation in Band 8a & above positions is very low in the NHS. It has been said, that it is important that we have staff teams that represent the populations they serve. This promotes better patient care & improves patient outcomes.
The conclusion was that the new organisation would have to sponsor my visa. For that to happen, they would have to change the role to a Fixed term contract. Was this even a possibility? Would they go through all that hassle?
The conversation now moved to, 'are you willing to leave your permanent job for a fixed term contract?' 'It's not fair to be pushed to do that'. Those were the thoughts of the amazingly kind & compassionate leaders I was talking to. I had to think & weigh things carefully.
I would have to have my recently acquired 2 year visa cancelled & end up with a 1 year visa for this fixed term contract. After that 1 year, I would have to apply for another job, & they would need to be willing to sponsor my next visa! Every visa application comes with a cost.
Some #InternationalAHP colleagues were like, why don't you first finish your 2 years &get your ILR? Then you can have the freedom to apply for all the jobs you want. I thought about it. 2 years seemed like a long time. I was ready for a new challenge & the offer was already here.
I decided that I would chance it! So, after some toing & froing, the certificate of sponsorship was issued to me by the new organisation.
And yesterday, I received my Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) which allows me to go to my new role.
And yesterday, I received my Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) which allows me to go to my new role.
My new role is with @NHSEngland as East of England AHP International Recruitment Lead. I now have this extra experience & understanding of a few more of the challenges that #InternationalAHPs & other professionals & their managers have to navigate! #InternationalRecruitment
September 2022 - March 2023!
I could have given up but a bit of me was curious. I wanted to see how this would end.
In a way, it was my litmus test for how practical this #Equity #Diversity & #Inclusion we keep talking about is.
I could have given up but a bit of me was curious. I wanted to see how this would end.
In a way, it was my litmus test for how practical this #Equity #Diversity & #Inclusion we keep talking about is.
I was still getting used to the idea that you can have 2 colleagues in similar roles, & one would easily go for a secondment which would help with their career progression, and the other wouldn't because they were on a work visa. Where was the #Equity in that?
Updating my mentor, she was like, 'you don't seem excited!'
I knew I was grateful, but I was exhausted. I am a positive person, but some of these experiences can break one's spirit.
We are resilient, but it would be good if our resilience didn't have to be stretched this much.
I knew I was grateful, but I was exhausted. I am a positive person, but some of these experiences can break one's spirit.
We are resilient, but it would be good if our resilience didn't have to be stretched this much.
I am extremely grateful for very understanding & supportive leaders.
I witnessed people doing their best but being restricted by the systems they are operating in.
I witnessed people doing their best but being restricted by the systems they are operating in.
Many thanks to leaders at @HCTNHS for doing your best to support me through this process; @AlisonRyderHCT @elliothowardj, Dhriti @PaulineMinagh @FakoTinu @FullenSusan1 @JillC_AHP @BeckyFarrar3 & others that I've not mentioned here.
Many thanks to @RachelWField & Gabby for not giving up on this process that turned out to be not straight forward at all. Many thanks to the @eoeahps team for being strong pillars for me - @DeborahKonu @NeuroPhysioPro @YatTsang @rajtcmpt @Adismusings @TaziMasarira @ashila_bhutia
Many thanks to everyone else who listened, encouraged, expressed empathy, offered advice, referred me to a colleague... Thank you!
Many thanks to my @cspbame network tribe. Grateful that I belong 'with' you!
The journey is long, with parts that feel like country lanes- winding, narrow, poor visibility, lots of uncertainty, but upholding & encouraging one another enables progress - however little or slow!
The journey is long, with parts that feel like country lanes- winding, narrow, poor visibility, lots of uncertainty, but upholding & encouraging one another enables progress - however little or slow!
"Let the globe, if nothing else, say this is true:
That even as we grieved, we grew.
That even as we hurt, we hoped.
That even as we tired, we tried.
That we’ll forever be tied together, victorious." ~Amanda Gorman
#TheHillWeClimb
#StillWeRise
@cspbame
theguardian.com/us-news/2021/j…
That even as we grieved, we grew.
That even as we hurt, we hoped.
That even as we tired, we tried.
That we’ll forever be tied together, victorious." ~Amanda Gorman
#TheHillWeClimb
#StillWeRise
@cspbame
theguardian.com/us-news/2021/j…
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