How To Go About Working As A Radiographer / Sonographer In The UK

by Helen Oehler: 

This article was published in The South African Radiographer in November 2002, to give the South African Radiographer an insight into what can be expected of a locum or permanent radiography placement in the UK.

Introduction

Working as a radiographer in the UK can be a rewarding and lucrative experience. During ones travels one will meet many people and experience a different working environment, as well as experiencing a different culture. Locuming gives you the opportunity to see parts of the world you normally would not have access to. This article provides tips on how to go about obtaining all necessary documents to work legally in the UK.

Documents Required.

•      A valid passport obtainable from Home Affairs Office or via a private passport firm. the latter can be quite pricey but save much angst.

•     Certificates and registration to work in the UK: Can be a lengthy process as essential to obtain equivalence certificate for registration I.e.. average to finalise about 6 months but can take as long as 18 months.

•                  Training program/course assessed by NARIC, a company in the UK that determines whether foreign qualifications are the same or similar standard to that in the UK. Send them a copy of training course transcripts (subjects) and national Diploma. include a letter requesting a course equivalence and payment which is currently£25. payment can be made by cheque or postal order made payable to ACCTIS Ltd. Name and address must be written on the back of cheque/postal orders. Alternatively log on to www.naric.org.uk then go to ENQUIRIES page. Complete and email the form. there are also details of instructions to be followed for the equivalence process. Internet applications speed up the equivalence process.

•                 Compulsory registration with the HPC has to also be arranged. this is equivalent to being registered with the Health Professions Council of SA as a Radiographer. Send a letter to HPC requesting a registration pack be posted to you, or as an alternative, download the relevant forms from their website at www.hpc-uk.co.uk The forms can seem intimidating but take some time and read them carefully. ensure all relevant information is provided as mistakes/omissions will slow down the registration process. Do not return the registration pack until you have received the NARIC equivalence certificate. the certificate must be included when returning completed registration forms to the HPC A cheque to cover the registration fee must be included (current fee is £195). note that when the registration process is complete annual registration of  £22 must be paid.

Tips

Keep certified copies of all documents you have compiled for this registration process. You will be able to use many of them when registering with a locum employment agency.

Options for Visas/Work Permits.

Before you go ahead with this whole lengthy paperwork process and pay an absolute fortune to get registered, consider the following:

•     Age.

•     Type of Visa

•     passport details.

    Under 28 year olds. - options to work in the UK:

An access route to the UK is going there on a Working Holiday Visa. Applications are made through the British High Commission in Pretoria. This Visa is valid for two years from first entry date into the UK regardless of whether you are in the country the whole time.

A Working Holiday Visa allows one to work for half the time of the visa, e.g. 2 years visa allows maximum working time of 1 year. you do not have to work continuously for a year but can be flexible regarding work periods and travel periods. You can enter and leave the UK as many times as you like during the two year visa period.

Before making first entry into the UK, you must have  a return air ticket and proof of sufficient funds for your partial support, or proof of pending employment. You will be able to locum on this Visa. Application for a Work permit is unnecessary and you have greater earning power, since most locum Agencies pay far better than NHS Hospitals. There is no fee to join a locum Agency; completion of an Agency registration pack is however mandatory. Shop around for the best pay rate from the locum Agency you choose to work through. As a South African citizen, this is an ideal way to see the world and make some money at the same time.

Over 28 year olds. - options to work in the UK:

A South African citizen over the age of 28, who has no access to Ancestral Visa has to apply for a permanent position. This entails registering with a locum Employment Agency. The Agency then sends your particulars to an NHS Hospital Trust. If the hospital decides to employ you, all documentation for your work permit is handled by the employing hospital and not the Locum Employment Agency.

Tip:- Register with several different Agencies as this will widen your search area and improve your chances of finding a position. You may specify an area you wish to work but there is no guarantee you will be placed there, although in many cases you will be placed close enough to it. when you get your contract from the hospital, read it carefully. Do not sign it if you are unhappy. negotiate for improved benefits. Hospitals could specify that you must work for them exclusively. if they do not, then it may be possible for you to do extra shifts through a Locum Agency. This depends what your Visa stamp in your passport specifies.

Your salary will be determined by the hospital and will depend on your experience. In most cases you may have to undergo an interview, though this may be done telephonically.  the length of the Work Permit depends on the hospital employing you The shortest Work Permit is usually not less than six months, very occasionally three months. This is very dependent on your negotiations with the Hospital that chooses to employ you. Remember that they are going to the trouble of organising a Work Permit for you, so they expect to get the most out of you. Note that your work Permit is effectively your entry clearance in to the UK. You do not have to apply for a Visa. your passport will be stamped with the relevant Visa details on arrival in the UK.

If you decide to stay in the UK indefinitely, this can be arranged through the Agency seeking employment for you. A point to remember is that if you go to the UK on a four year period Work Permit, you can then apply for permanent residence (Indefinite leave to remain).

Ancestral & Spousal Visas:

• South African citizens with parent or grandparent born in the UK may apply for an Ancestral Visa.

• South African citizens married to someone with a parent or grandparent born in the UK may also apply for an Ancestral Visa.

• South African citizens married to someone who is a British citizen may apply for an Spousal Visa.

Application for these Visas is through the British High Commission.

These Visas allow one to enter the UK without a Work permit. You can register with an employment Agency and specify whether you wish to locum or find a permanent position.

If you stay in the UK on an Ancestral Visa for a period of four years, you can apply for full citizenship, allowing you to come and go as you please.

Spousal Visa holders can apply for permanent residency after one year.

Note that with both Ancestral and Spousal visas, you will have to spend a stipulated period of time in the UK in order to apply for a permanent residency.

Employment Options for British or EU Passport Holders:

No restrictions on working in the UK, for example, one could work in the UK during Annual leave. Permanent residence not limited. Permanent positions do not require Work Permits.

What to expect when locuming in the UK:

• Locum Diagnostic Radiographers are usually only employed to do basic Radiography.
  Radiographers in the UK require a certificate to do most specialised radiography (e.g. Mammography) with the exception of MRI and CT. NHS Hospitals are often short staffed and, as an incentive, give their permanent staff first option to learn CT, MRI etc.
  Basic Radiography can be very rewarding and different from that in South Africa. Some hospitals may require you to work evenings and weekend shifts. these shifts are lucrative for locum Radiographers, but scarce.
  No matter which NHS hospital you locum at, the general protocols (technique and positioning ) are the same. exposure charts are generally meticulously maintained and are therefore reliable and accurate.

• B Tech degree in Sonography or Mammography etc allows one to apply for a Locum placement in the relevant field of expertise as a specialist Radiographer.

• Presently their is no HPC/CPSM governing body for Sonographers, but most NHS Hospitals will only accept Sonographers with HPC registration. Sonographers who are dual qualified as Radiographers can  register. If you are only qualified as a Sonographer, there are still positions in the UK.

• CT or MRI radiographers with or without certificates of competence / qualifications in these fields can apply for a specialist locum position. However, these positions are not as plentiful so you may find yourself doing diagnostic Radiography.

Tips:    Ask you hospital to place you in a hospital that has staff accommodation if you need this. Costs vary from £30 - £100 per week. London is generally more expensive that the rest of the UK. Some Agencies can assist you in opening a UK bank Account before you arrive at your place of employment.

Permanent / Work Permit Holders:

Should you enter the UK on a Work permit, then you will probably have applied for a position in your own speciality (CT, MRI etc.). however, if there are no positions available in the speciality of your choice, you may have to settle for a diagnostic position until a specialist position becomes available. Note, remuneration as a permanent/work permit Radiographer is usually less that that of a Locum Radiographer.

Permanent/work permit Radiographers can also request a position in a hospital that has staff accommodation, at the same cost as mentioned for locum Radiographers above. Some Agencies will also be able to open a UK bank Account.

Concluding Remarks:

No matter how you intend to get there, you have to register with the HPC to be able to work. You will also need to arrange and pay for your visa and an air ticket. Visa costs are available from the British High Commission in Pretoria. These prices fluctuate depending on the Rand/pound exchange rate.

Shop around for the best price on an air ticket and to save money do not fly direct. Book well in advance. Some Agencies or hospitals may offer to pay some of these costs for you, but find out what they expect form you in return.

Getting to the UK as a Radiographer in a long and costly process. But when you consider the Rand/Pound exchange rate and your earning power in the UK then the time and money spent will be worth it. The experience of working in another country is rewarding, invaluable and very educational.

*   **   **   **   *

Return to Helen's Information page and Sonographers Medical South Africa

Return to our home Page.

We are proud to be Corporate Members of the REC, ensuring our Standards remain of  the highest quality and guaranteeing the superb quality of our Service to both Locums & Clients.

Note:    Sonographers Medical