ReSTORE stands for:
Refugee Support, Training, Orientation, Recruitment and Education for healthcare professionals who are refugees living in South Yorkshire.
ReSTORE was established in April 2023 and is based in South Yorkshire run by the South Yorkshire Primary Care and Workforce Training Hub. It is a funded structured programme aimed at individuals who have previously worked as nurses and midwives.
ReSTORE was expanded to include Allied Health Professionals (AHPs) in April 2025.
Based in South Yorkshire, ReSTORE is run by the South Yorkshire Primary Care and Workforce Training Hub (SYPCWTH).
To date, ReSTORE has supported 53 refugee healthcare professionals by assisting them to take their first steps into entry-level roles as Healthcare Support Workers and hospital volunteers, enabling their return to profession whilst they prepare for their exams as required by regulatory councils. This helps participants gain a deeper understanding of NHS practices, protocols, and workplace culture, ensuring they are well-prepared to deliver care aligned with UK standards.
The Programme is led by Blerta Ilazi – Health Inclusion Advanced Nurse Practitioner.
Through Blerta’s lived experiences of going through the system herself, she was inspired to establish a programme for other refugees with a nursing and midwifery background to join the register of their profession, providing a helping hand in navigating this long and complicated journey.
ReSTORE was established:
All participating healthcare professionals are required to undertake preparatory training for the Occupational English Test (OET), ensuring that they meet the necessary language proficiency standards for clinical practice in the United Kingdom. In addition, nurses are expected to complete the clinical assessments mandated by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), which include the Computer Based Test (CBT) and the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) which assesses the clinical knowledge and practical skills essential for nursing registration.
Allied Health Professionals (AHPs) engage in a comprehensive suite of training activities tailored to their specific disciplines, ensuring alignment with professional regulatory requirements and best practice standards. This includes English in order to meet the necessary language proficiency standards for clinical practice.
This multifaceted approach, which combines targeted training and professional development with practical experience gained in healthcare support worker roles, is intended to equip refugee healthcare professionals with the requisite competencies for successful integration into careers within the National Health Service.
Participants benefit from dedicated pastoral support, with a clear emphasis on trauma-informed employment practices to ensure their wellbeing throughout the program.
The programme typically takes between one and two years to complete, depending on each participant’s prior training, qualifications, and individual circumstances.
We have a flexible referral and application process, please email to engage with us and arrange an initial interview.
For expression of interest please see the link ReSTORE Programme Expression of Interest – Fill in form
The programme has well established partnerships with four acute NHS trusts and two mental health trusts across South Yorkshire, underpinning integrated workforce development throughout the region. In addition, it actively collaborates with the local Department for Work and Pensions, NHS England (NHSE), the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), Sheffield City Council, and a range of voluntary sector organisations within South Yorkshire.
These collaborative relationships create a structured and nurturing environment, supporting participants in their professional transition into the NHS workforce and promoting their overall wellbeing.
“Going to ask in the Job Centre for any job in a hospital was the lowest time of my life, until I was referred to the ReSTORE programme. The opportunity to reconnect with my profession and receive support through ReSTORE gave me hope and a renewed sense of purpose. I am now working in the NHS and proud to be contributing again as a nurse.”
Vivie – ReSTORE participant, Registered Nurse
“Navigating the NHS system as a refugee nurse felt overwhelming, but ReSTORE gave me structure, hope, and a clear pathway. The team’s understanding of our journey made all the difference. I am now fully registered and working as a nurse, something I once thought was impossible.”
Haris – ReSTORE participant, Registered Nurse
“Over the past two years, the ReSTORE team’s support meant far more than helping me pass exams. They stood by me through every challenge, encouraged me when I doubted myself, and never let me give up. The support felt like family. Today, as a registered Midwife, I know this journey is not something I achieved alone. I am incredibly proud to be ReSTORE’s first qualified midwife, and grateful for the belief and dedication that made this possible.”
Ellie – ReSTORE participant, Registered Midwife
“I wish I could help other people like you in the future” Meli- Restore participant- Registered nurse
Rotherham NHS Hospital Trust
The ReSTORE programme has been truly transformational in changing the lives of people living in Rotherham who were Registered Nurses in their home country. We worked with Blerta and the ReSTORE team in partnership on a bespoke recruitment pathway for people who they had identified as nurses. They undertook a compassionate interview process and were offered posts as Healthcare Support Workers, enabling them to refresh their clinical skills, build confidence in communicating with patients, and begin learning the cultural differences within the NHS compared to their home countries.
We provided restorative clinical supervision and practical OSCE preparation each week, and have now successfully supported three nurses through their NMC OSCE. This has strengthened the cultural diversity of our nursing workforce, which will undoubtedly make a difference to our patients.
The feedback has been beyond humbling. From learning about the individual journeys of our refugee nurses to England, to recognising their clinical expertise and experience, playing a small part in this success has been one of the highlights of my 31-year nursing career.
Deputy Chief Nurse, Rotherham Hospital
Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC)
I have been working with ReSTORE for several years now and just wanted to share a quick note to let you know that you do a fantastic job. You transform the lives of some of the most vulnerable people who are in desperate need of support. Without your help, many would not be able to move forward with their lives.
I am really pleased that you have reached out to the NMC for assistance, and I feel very privileged to have been able to work with you. Please continue the amazing work that you do.
NMC Registrant Officer
Great to stand alongside organisations supporting refugee healthcare professionals and to build new connections with a shared purpose.
On 12 May, the ReSTORE Programme was invited to attend the 61st Florence Nightingale Commemoration Service at Westminster Abbey, London. The service took place in the evening and brought together nursing leaders and professionals from across the UK. Blerta attended alongside three prospective nurses for the Windrush Leadership Programme, delivered by the Florence Nightingale Foundation. These nurses are part of the first cohort of ReSTORE participants to have successfully secured places on this national leadership programme, becoming the first ReSTORE nurses to progress into a recognised Florence Nightingale Foundation leadership pathway.
In June 2025, the ReSTORE Programme received international recognition when it was invited by the High Commission of Canada to participate in the G7 Countries Summit Expert Series, hosted at Canada House in London. ReSTORE was showcased as a positive international model of refugee integration, demonstrating how inclusive workforce programmes can strengthen health systems while supporting displaced healthcare professionals to thrive.
In November 2023, Blerta was nominated by NHS England to attend a reception at Buckingham Palace, where she met His Majesty King Charles, in recognition of her outstanding contribution to NHS workforce diversity and inclusivity. This moment brought national visibility to her work and highlighted her leadership as an example of compassionate, values‑driven change within theNHS.
