Cultural Intelligence in Social Care

Recent guidance from the NHS (pslhub.org) recommends that all NHS managers and leaders undergo cultural intelligence training to better support international recruits.

The National Guardian’s Office (NGO) report has highlighted that overseas staff in the NHS face higher scrutiny, limited support and often feel "invisible". The responsibility to adapt is too often placed solely on the overseas-trained professionals themselves.

The Call for Cultural Competence

The NGO report makes it clear that a one-way approach is no longer acceptable. It states that "a two-way process of cultural intelligence is needed, where organisations actively seek to understand and adapt to the experiences and perspectives of overseas-trained workers."

More than half of NHS Freedom to Speak Up Guardians said they were not aware of any training being offered to managers on how to support overseas staff. The message is clear: cultural intelligence must go beyond surface-level awareness. It should be deeply integrated into team training, leadership development, and daily care practices.

How Indago Development Has Been Leading the Way

At Indago Development, we have long recognised the importance of cultural understanding in care. Our CPD-accredited Health and Social Care course, authored and delivered by British tutors including Social Care Lead Jason Carder and former British Head Teacher Bhavin Tailor, has been delivered to care homes for over two years. It includes care standards, cultural adaptation, informal English language as well as essential components like Emotional Intelligence (EI) and Cultural Intelligence (CQ). We also deliver in-house training directly within care homes, working with the entire team - not just overseas. This whole-team approach ensures that everyone shares the same understanding, communicates effectively, and contributes to a stronger, more inclusive care environment - which is what the NHS is now recommending in its latest guidance.

What Care Providers are Saying

Verity, Home Manager at Gibraltar Nursing Home in Wales, shared the impact our training has had:

"We’ve seen how this course not only improves communication, but also builds confidence and connection within our care team. Families of residents have even commented on the improvement in understanding and warmth from overseas carers – and fed this back to CIW!"

This kind of feedback shows that when both sides are supported, those arriving and those welcoming, the whole care environment benefits – please read full article here Social Care Training - Retention & Feedback to Inspectors

Looking Ahead

The NHS has proposed integrating cultural intelligence training into its national Leadership and Management Framework by 2026. At Indago Development, we are proud to say we are already doing this work, today.

If you're a care provider looking to strengthen communication, inclusion, and cultural understanding within your team, our training could make all the difference. It not only supports a more cohesive and respectful team culture, but also contributes to team retention, reduces recruitment costs, and promotes holistic wellbeing for both team and residents.

Contact Us for more information.