Congratulations! You’ve landed your first Job in the NHS! The PLAB pathway for a medical career in the UK is a long journey and you have overcome each obstacle to finally make it. After you accept and sign the contract for your post, you begin your last step towards actually starting work.
Certificate of Sponsorship (cos):
The documents for cos are -passport , police clearance certificate and valid IELTS/OET.
The needed for your cos to be processed varies in different trusts, look out how long is your COS is valid for and if maintenance is checked.
If your COS is not checked for maintenance it means that the Trust will not support you in your initial period till your first paycheck and so you will have to show a bank statement of estimated expenses and show you can sustain yourself in your work Visa/skilled worker visa application.
References about previous clinical experience:
You will be asked to provide references about your work experience , give at least two references for each workplace as sometimes you may not get a response and choose your references wisely.
Applying for Skilled worker Visa
The documents needed are Passport, certificate of sponsorship , IELTS certificate , Medical degree , General Medical Council registration certificate, your local medical council registration certificate, TB certificate (From a testing centre mentioned in the UK Visas website), police clearance certificate and cover letter. Again if maintenance is not checked then ,bank statements are a must while applying.
Accommodation:
Do email your HR regarding Hospital accommodation as they are a lot more economical and don’t have to travel, if you are unable to acquire then search for an accommodation after discussing with your senior colleagues already working in that Trust, don’t get yourself into long contracts if you are in a rotational post.
Medical Indemnity Insurance
It’s highly advisable to have insurance before you start ,one of the popular ones are MPS,MDU. The NHS insurance will only cover the hospital, not the individual.
Register with a GP
After you have a proper address in the UK, you can search online or walk-in to your nearest GP to get an appointment for registration.
BMA membership
Its help you get started with providing constant support.It is free for the first year.
Preparation for work
Depending on what speciality you are getting into you can prepare ,one of the must read books is Oxford Handbook of Foundation Doctors, it gives you an general outline of all specialities what are the duties of a foundation Doctor, appraisals a vast resource indeed.
There are many blogs regarding documentation and audits in the TrewLink website do give them a read.
Need more tips and advice?
If you have any questions about building your portfolio, I would be happy to answer them at trewlink.com. You can register using this link. Find me as an Ambassador and Follow my profile –Syed Mashood Iqbal - to receive regular support and advice.
Take Control of Your Career:
Learn more about how MPS membership can protect your career. Visit MPS’ dedicated IMG Hub for detailed information and to start your membership application process.
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