We chat with MELVIN BYRES about co-founding a helper agency that recruits exceptional carers and nurses from the Philippines into the UK care sector. Plus we ask how does live in care work and find out about the process of finding a carer to suit your situation.
Tell us about yourself and why you launched Care Recruitment International (CRI).
I was born in the UK but grew up in Hong Kong, attending Kellett School and West Island School. After setting up my own sports marketing agency and working on large sports events in HK, my young family and I returned to the UK in 2022.
As part of this process, I wanted to find onward employment for our helper, Jackie (pictured below). Her preference (and ours) was to continue in the same role in the UK, however this wasn’t possible with UK immigration laws. Simultaneously, the UK Government made it possible for overseas carers to obtain a work visa, in response to the care sector struggling to find staff post Brexit and COVID. So I made it my mission to help Jackie find a role in a care home.
The entire process was harder than I expected, and it opened my eyes to the inadequacies of the existing system; I also learnt how rife exploitation and modern slavery are in the sector. Care Recruitment International was born to focus on ethically recruiting Filipino carers into the UK care sector, giving them a five-to-ten-times pay rise while helping the struggling UK care sector find excellent and long-term dedicated care staff. At the time of writing, our retention rate is 100 percent.
In June 2024, we expanded our service to work with private households too, meaning it’s now possible for a private household to receive live-in care from someone from the Philippines.
For families who haven’t had a helper, how does live-in care work?
Live-in care is an increasingly popular option compared to moving into a care home. First of all, many people are years away from needing a care home, but still need light care and help around the house over a long transition period. This allows you to stay in your own home and remain independent, and you benefit from one-on-one care (and, in our case, someone that you choose). You have complete autonomy with meals, routines and so on. And live-in care is normally more affordable than going into a care home depending on how many hours the carer is working; our packages start at £764 per week, while the premium end of the care home market ranges in price from £1,500 to £3,000 or more per week.
What is the process of finding a carer with CRI?
Private households cannot sponsor or employ foreign care workers; this must be done via a Care Quality Commission approved care provider, who Care Recruitment International have partnered with. Working with our partner, we learn about each individual’s care needs so we can customise a package for them. We then start the process of recruiting a suitable carer.
We will present the profiles of several suitably qualified pre screened candidates for the client to interview online and select their preference. At this point, we apply for the UK work visa and exit paperwork from the Philippines, then book flights.
How does your helper agency assist expat families keen to bring their carer back from HK?
We completely understand the desire to work with someone you already know and trust, so we work with you to facilitate this. To qualify for a visa, carers need to have a clean police record for the last 10 years, be tuberculosis free and must have English proficiency of IELTS 4.0. For visa compliance purposes, the client must be in genuine need of care, such as elderly or have special educational needs (SEN) and/or a disability.
Contact Melvin at hello@carerecruitmentinternational.com or WhatsApp +44 7518 269656, and find out more at carerecruitmentInternational.com.
This article featuring Care Recruitment International helper agency first appeared in the Winter 2024/2025 issue of Expat Living magazine. Subscribe now so you never miss an issue!