International Recruitment and Workforce Development
Cornerstone Occupational Therapy Services (COTS) partners with healthcare providers, recruitment agencies, and international organisations to support the successful recruitment, preparation, and integration of internationally educated occupational therapists into the Irish healthcare system.
Our unique workforce development model begins before clinicians relocate to Ireland. Rather than waiting until therapists arrive, COTS provides structured pre-arrival education, mentoring, and competency development to ensure they are professionally prepared, culturally confident, and practice-ready from their first day of employment.
This approach reduces induction time, improves workforce retention, enhances patient safety, and provides significant cost savings for employers.
- Programme can be delivered for groups, in recruitment countries or online
- Used as a candidate selection tool prior to job offer, saving money and time
Our recruitment and workforce support services
Candidate identification and selection
We work collaboratively with employers to identify occupational therapists whose clinical skills, professional values, communication abilities, and career aspirations align with organizational needs. Our recruitment support includes:
- Candidate screening and shortlisting
- Review of qualifications and clinical experience
- Assessment of paediatric competencies where appropriate
- Behavioral and values-based interviewing
- Evaluation of communication skills
- Professional suitability assessment
- Recommendation of candidates for employment
Interview support
COTS assists organizations throughout the recruitment process by participating in, or advising on, candidate interviews. Support includes:
- Development of competency-based interview questions
- Behavioural interviewing
- Clinical scenario-based interviews
- Professional values assessment
- Clinical reasoning evaluation
- Interview scoring and recommendations
- Recruitment decision support
Pre-Arrival Clinical Preparation Programme
Our signature service is a structured Clinical Readiness Programme delivered while therapists remain in their home country. Through online teaching, mentoring, reflective supervision, and guided learning, clinicians begin developing the knowledge and skills required for practice in Ireland before relocation. Programme content includes:
- Orientation to the Irish health and social care system
- CORU standards and professional responsibilities
- Clinical governance
- Documentation and report writing
- Family-centred paediatric practice
- Safeguarding
- Communication within multidisciplinary teams
- Cultural competence
- Professional ethics
- Reflective practice
- Clinical reasoning
- Case discussions
- Practice expectations within Irish services
Clinical mentorship
Each therapist is supported by an experienced paediatric occupational therapist who provides ongoing mentoring throughout the transition process. Mentorship focuses on:
- Professional confidence
- Clinical decision-making
- Reflective learning
- Workplace expectations
- Problem solving
- Professional identity
- Successful integration into the Irish healthcare workforce
Post-arrival transition support
Following relocation, COTS continues to provide structured support to ensure a successful transition into clinical practice. This may include:
- Clinical supervision
- Case consultation
- Documentation review
- Competency development
- Reflective practice
- Professional coaching
- Individual learning plans
- Ongoing professional development
Benefits for employers
Our workforce development model enables employers to:
- Recruit high-quality occupational therapists with confidence
- Identify candidates who are the best fit for their organisation
- Reduce recruitment risk
- Shorten orientation and induction programmes
- Improve clinical readiness before employment commences
- Increase staff confidence and competence
- Improve workforce retention
- Enhance patient safety and quality of care
- Reduce training costs
- Strengthen governance and professional standards
Benefits for international occupational therapists
The programme enables internationally educated occupational therapists to:
- Develop confidence before relocating
- Understand the Irish healthcare system
- Become familiar with professional standards and expectations
- Improve communication and cultural competence
- Build professional networks
- Develop clinical confidence
- Transition smoothly into employment
- Feel supported throughout their professional journey
Our commitment
At COTS, we believe successful international recruitment extends beyond filling vacancies. It involves selecting the right clinicians, preparing them for success, supporting their professional growth, and enabling them to become valued members of the Irish healthcare workforce.
By investing in preparation before relocation, we help employers build stronger teams while supporting internationally educated occupational therapists to achieve long-term professional success in Ireland.
Enquire about this service
Interested in International Recruitment and Workforce Development? Share a few details and we will be in touch.
- 40 The Village, Eastham Road
Bettystown, County Meath
Ireland A92 F9K1 - info@cornerstoneot.ie