Anwar came to Refugee Council in 2014 seeking help with English language. Like all émigré doctors, he would need to pass a high English language proficiency test (IELTS).

We offered him a place in our pre-IELTS class and two years later he achieved the score required by the General Medical Council.  These were two tough years for Anwar, studying English, struggling to keep his housing benefit and trying to find work. During that time he worked as a receptionist, retail assistant and a pizza delivery man.

Six months later he passed the Professional and Linguistic Assessment Board exam and was able to apply for full professional registration with a licence to practice. We helped with the GMC application and arranged a two month clinical attachment to ease his transition to working in the NHS. He found himself in a race against time to have his professional registration granted, his clinical attachment complete and his job application submitted within two months, and succeeded.

Finally he had everything he needed and was appointed to a Clinical Associate Psychologist post at a London hospital.