6 May 2025
We are proud to announce that we have been awarded the NHS Scotland Pastoral Care Quality Award in recognition of our hard work on international recruitment and our commitment to supporting our international staff.
At NHS Borders, we understand the importance of ensuring the safe arrival, induction and ongoing support of our internationally recruited colleagues. By prioritising their wellbeing, we have demonstrated best practice standards that have been co-developed with NHS Education for Scotland, the Centre for Workforce Supply, Scottish Government and the NHS Scotland Academy.
The Pastoral Care Quality Award (PCQA) celebrates health boards who provide high-quality pastoral care throughout recruitment and employment. This award recognises the positive impact that excellent pastoral support has on staff wellbeing and workplace culture, as well as recruitment and retention.
The award, which was originally launched in England in 2022 and has now been extended to Scotland, ensures a consistent, high-quality approach to pastoral care for internationally educated healthcare professionals. Having achieved this award, we will be reassessed every three years to make sure we are maintaining our high standards.
Andy Carter, Director of Human Resources at NHS Borders, said: “We are very proud to have been recognised for our hard work in recruiting and supporting international staff. Moving to live and work in a new country, with some new and different ways of working isn’t easy. International staff have made a vital contribution to maintaining safe staffing levels. I want to publicly thank colleagues in my teams, Clinical & Professional Development, our trade union stewards, facilities staff and those co-workers who have helped our international staff to settle into NHS Borders. Achieving this award highlights our ongoing dedication to valuing, supporting and celebrating the diversity of our workforce, and reinforces our position as an employer of choice. Where there is a Scotland/UK-wide shortage of health professionals, we will continue to welcome more international recruits to the Borders.”