Ghanaian recruitment and relocation packages

Summary

A request was made for details on the recruitment of Ghanaian nationals and associated relocation packages by the Department of Health and Social Care between 2020 and 2025. The authority responded that the requested information is not held.

Key Facts

• The request was received on 24 September 2025.
• The response was issued on 3 October 2025.
• The outcome of the request is 'Information not held'.
• The request covered policies, campaigns, supplier contracts, and recruitment numbers for Ghanaian nationals.
• The response was issued by the Interim Chief Officer, Tim O'Neill.

Data Disclosed

• 2025-09-24
• 2025-10-03
• 1 January 2020
• 4953674

Original Request

I am seeking information about the recruitment of Ghanaian nationals to roles within Department of Health and Social Care and any relocation packages offered in connection with such recruitment. Timeframe Please cover the period 1 January 2020 to the date of your response (or to the most recent date for which records are held). Requests Policy & decision-making Any policies, business cases, ministerial/board papers, briefing notes or approvals that relate to recruiting Ghanaian nationals (including recruitment specifically targeted at Nigeria) and/or offering relocation packages to those recruits. Any Equality/HR impact assessments and legal advice relevant to this recruitment activity. Campaigns & suppliers Details of any recruitment campaigns or initiatives conducted in Ghana or aimed specifically at Ghanaian candidates, including dates, roles targeted, and channels used (e.g., job fairs, agencies, advertising). The names of any external suppliers (recruitment agencies, marketing firms, relocation providers), plus contract values, procurement route, and contract start/end dates. Please provide copies of contracts and variations/redactions as appropriate. Numbers hired & roles The number of Nigerian nationals offered roles and who commenced employment, broken down by: Year - Staff group/band (e.g., nurses, doctors, AHPs, care/support roles, admin); - Employer (Manx Care vs DHSC), if applicable; Visa sponsorship status (e.g., Skilled Worker). For context, please also provide the total number of overseas recruits by year and staff group for the same period. - Relocation packages (content & cost) - The standard components of any relocation package offered (e.g., flights, temporary accommodation, permanent housing assistance, allowances, settling-in payments, professional registration fees, exam fees, luggage/shipping, transport on arrival). - The eligibility criteria (who qualifies, conditions, any clawback/repayment terms). - Total expenditure on relocation packages for Ghanaian recruits by year, and the average and median cost per recruit. If easier, provide a line-item breakdown of costs you hold (e.g., flights, accommodation, allowances). If exact figures are not readily available, please provide the best available recorded totals and explain any limitations in the data. Outcomes & retention - Retention data for Ghanaian recruits: number still employed 6, 12 and 24 months after start, by intake year. - Any recorded issues, complaints, or formal reviews specifically concerning relocation package administration (not personal HR data), and any resulting actions or changes. Accommodation & safeguarding - Any agreements for temporary accommodation used for relocated staff (addresses may be redacted), including landlords/providers and costs. - Confirmation of pre-employment checks and professional registration steps required (e.g., NMC/ GMC/ HCPC processes) for these recruits and any internal guidance on onboarding internationally recruited staff. Communications & publicity - Copies of adverts, job packs, social media posts, brochures, or other promotional material used in Ghana or aimed at Ghanaian candidates. - Any press lines, Q&As, or communications plans prepared on this topic. If any part is exempt, please identify the specific exemption(s) relied on and supply the remainder. If the information is held by another Isle of Man public authority, please advise and assist by directing me accordingly. If my request is too broad, please process the parts that can be supplied within cost/time limits and let me know how best to refine the remainder.

Data Tables (1)

Full Response Text

Chief Officer: Tim O’Neill (Interim) Freedom of Information Team First Floor Belgravia House Circular Road Douglas IM1 1AE

Our ref: 4953674 03 October 2025

Dear ###

We write further to your request received 24 September 2025, which states:

"I am seeking information about the recruitment of Ghanaian nationals to roles within Department of Health and Social Care and any relocation packages offered in connection with such recruitment.

Timeframe
Please cover the period 1 January 2020 to the date of your response (or to the most recent date for which records are held).

Requests
Policy & decision-making
Any policies, business cases, ministerial/board papers, briefing notes or approvals that relate to recruiting Ghanaian nationals (including recruitment specifically targeted at Nigeria) and/or offering relocation packages to those recruits.

Any Equality/HR impact assessments and legal advice relevant to this recruitment activity.

Campaigns & suppliers
Details of any recruitment campaigns or initiatives conducted in Ghana or aimed specifically at Ghanaian candidates, including dates, roles targeted, and channels used (e.g., job fairs, agencies, advertising).

The names of any external suppliers (recruitment agencies, marketing firms, relocation providers), plus contract values, procurement route, and contract start/end dates. Please provide copies of contracts and variations/redactions as appropriate.

Numbers hired & roles
The number of Nigerian nationals offered roles and who commenced employment, broken down by:

Year
- Staff group/band (e.g., nurses, doctors, AHPs, care/support roles, admin);

• Employer (Manx Care vs DHSC), if applicable; Visa sponsorship status (e.g., Skilled Worker). For context, please also provide the total number of overseas recruits by year and staff group for the same period.
• Relocation packages (content & cost)
• The standard components of any relocation package offered (e.g., flights, temporary accommodation, permanent housing assistance, allowances, settling-in payments, professional registration fees, exam fees, luggage/shipping, transport on arrival).
• The eligibility criteria (who qualifies, conditions, any clawback/repayment terms).
• Total expenditure on relocation packages for Ghanaian recruits by year, and the average and median cost per recruit. If easier, provide a line-item breakdown of costs you hold (e.g., flights, accommodation, allowances).

If exact figures are not readily available, please provide the best available recorded totals and explain any limitations in the data.

Outcomes & retention
- Retention data for Ghanaian recruits: number still employed 6, 12 and 24 months after start, by intake year.
- Any recorded issues, complaints, or formal reviews specifically concerning relocation package administration (not personal HR data), and any resulting actions or changes.

Accommodation & safeguarding
- Any agreements for temporary accommodation used for relocated staff (addresses may be redacted), including landlords/providers and costs.
- Confirmation of pre-employment checks and professional registration steps required (e.g., NMC/ GMC/ HCPC processes) for these recruits and any internal guidance on onboarding internationally recruited staff.

Communications & publicity
- Copies of adverts, job packs, social media posts, brochures, or other promotional material used in Ghana or aimed at Ghanaian candidates.
- Any press lines, Q&As, or communications plans prepared on this topic.

If any part is exempt, please identify the specific exemption(s) relied on and supply the remainder.

If the information is held by another Isle of Man public authority, please advise and assist by directing me accordingly.

If my request is too broad, please process the parts that can be supplied within cost/time limits and let me know how best to refine the remainder."

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Department of Health and Social Care (the Department) is unable to provide the information that you have requested. This is in line with Section 11(3)a of the Act, as a practical refusal reason applies; namely we do not hold or cannot, after taking reasonable steps to do so, find the information that you have requested as it may be held by The Cabinet Office (Office of Human Resources).

You may wish to re-submit your request to The Cabinet Office (Office of Human Resources) which is an option available on the Freedom of Information request portal, who may be able to help you.

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, under section 15 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015 (Duty to provide advice and assistance), the Department does hold information on financial details for staff expenditure but this information is not broken down to the required degree in which it would enable the Department to respond to with your request to the manner you require.

Please quote the reference number 4953674 in any future communications.

Your right to request a review

If you are unhappy with this response to your freedom of information request, you may ask us to carry out an internal review of the response, by completing a complaint form and submitting it electronically or by delivery/post.

An electronic version of our complaint form can be found by going to our website at https://services.gov.im/freedom-of-information/Review . If you would like a paper version of our complaint form to be sent to you by post, please contact me and I will be happy to arrange for this. Your review request should explain why you are dissatisfied with this response, and should be made as soon as practicable. We will respond as soon as the review has been concluded.

If you are not satisfied with the result of the review, you then have the right to appeal to the Information Commissioner for a decision on; 1. Whether we have responded to your request for information in accordance with Part 2 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015; or 2. Whether we are justified in refusing to give you the information requested.
In response to an application for review, the Information Commissioner may, at any time, attempt to resolve a matter by negotiation, conciliation, mediation or another form of alternative dispute resolution and will have regard to any outcome of this in making any subsequent decision. More detailed information on your right to a review can be found on the Information Commissioner’s website at www.inforights.im. Should you have any queries concerning this letter, please do not hesitate to contact me. Further information about freedom of information requests can be found at www.gov.im/foi.

I will now close your request as of this date.