In just three years, ReSTORE – an award-winning programme empowering refugee nurses to re-enter nursing – has been built from the ground up, and is now turning the heads of world leaders.
Blerta Ilazi tells us how her lived experienced drove her to set up the programme, how it’s transforming professional pathways and improving patient care; and, after being invited to speak at the G7 expert series, what comes next.
From dream to reality
As a health inclusion advanced nurse practitioner, Blerta works in parts of Sheffield with significant health inequalities. Consultations with her patients highlighted that many were qualified health care professionals, unable to practise in their professions after coming to the UK – a barrier which impacted their health and wellbeing.
ReSTORE has created a powerful ripple effect... it’s changing lives... and the NHS
Putting her own experience of systemic barriers to use, Blerta had a vision: to launch a programme which supported local people with a forced migration status to return to nursing. In April 2023, with full support from her manager at the South Yorkshire Primary Care Workforce and Training Hub, that ambition became a reality.
“Starting ReSTORE has been the most rewarding part of my career, and I’ve been a nurse for 20 years. I love caring for my patients, but this feels different.
"This work has created a powerful ripple effect which is changing the lives of those on the programme, their families, our patients and the NHS,” says Blerta.
True innovation
While there are several national organisations that support internationally trained or displaced doctors, ReSTORE is the first dedicated to nurses and allied health professionals.
Partnership is at the heart of ReSTORE’s design and delivery. It works with the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP), the NMC, third-sector organisations such as charities and voluntary groups, and NHS hospitals across the region, to prepare participants for careers in the NHS and support them into employment.
Crucially, ReSTORE offers personalised support too. Providing social integration intervention, pastoral care, and practical guidance with NMC and Home Office processes.
You may have the best skills for the job, but some organisations will your reject application based on immigration status
Blerta says current research shows navigating complex registration processes and NHS recruitment pathways can create significant and lasting barriers for refugee health care professionals.
“You may have the best skills for the job, but unfortunately there are organisations that will reject your application based on your immigration status. That's painful, that needs to change – and ReSTORE is doing that,” beams Blerta.
ReSTORE’s four-step programme
In three years, the ReSTORE programme has supported:
- 39 participants to work as health care support workers
- 11 participants to complete their UK registration and start practising as nurses again
- eight nurses who are now in the final stages of registering
- other ReSTORE participants who are volunteering and undertaking English language training while they prepare for registration.
Step 1: preparing for the OET
The programme starts by preparing participants for the Occupational English Test (OET). An exam the NMC requires every internationally educated nurse to pass to be employed in the NHS (a qualification equivalent to higher than A-level).
Step 2: entering the NHS
Next, if the participants haven’t worked in the UK before, they're found a voluntary role in the NHS. For those who already have experience, they’re found employment as a health care support worker and the programme continues to support them during the next step.
Step 3: preparing for clinical exams
There are two clinical exams, the same for any internationally educated nurse: the CBT (a computer-based exam) and the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE).
Step 4: transition to registered nurse
Once both exams have been passed, participants are supported with registration and transition to become a registered nurse.
Blerta receives enquiries from all over England from refugee nurses looking for support. ReSTORE’s criteria means candidates must live in South Yorkshire or be willing to commute or relocate; and many are prepared to do just that.
Rebuilding confidence
The ReSTORE programme takes between 12 and 18 months to complete. To ensure every participant is given the personal and professional support they need, only 10 nurses are recruited per cohort.
Sadly, not everyone who comes through the ReSTORE programme finishes with a qualification.
“Despite our robust pastoral support, for some people, their confidence has already been damaged so much from their pre-migration journey and their post-migration experiences, they just can't see themselves working as registered nurses in the UK. But many are very happy to continue working as health care assistants,” says Blerta.
I've been through it. I know what it's like not to have anybody
Blerta dedicates two days of her week to ReSTORE, supported by her colleagues Brigitte, who leads on allied health professions, and Mimie, who provides pastoral and admin support. But Blerta confesses this isn’t a job you can easily switch off from.
“I can't not answer a call if one of our participants is having a tough time.
“Whether it’s an evening or the weekend, I’m there for them. I’ve been through it. I know what it's like not to have anybody”.
Success stories: Mimie and Viv
When Mimie came to the UK in 2008, she says navigating the Home Office’s processes was the biggest barrier she faced. Mimie pushed herself to integrate, went to college and when she got her stay in 2016, she took a job working in supported living, as university wasn’t an option.
I was born to nurse. It's part of my identity
She always hoped she’d return to working as nurse, but Mimie just didn’t know how to make it happen. “I always tell people, I was born to nurse. It’s part of my identity.”
When Mimie discovered ReSTORE, she was living in Manchester and made a commitment to commute to South Yorkshire to take her place on the programme.
Blerta helped Mimie secure a job in the NHS (something she’d tried twice before and been denied), and now when Mimie qualifies, she’ll be able to work as a registered nurse on the same ward.
“ReSTORE has resurrected my life,” says Mimie.
Meet Viv
Viv – an experienced and highly-skilled nurse – says ReSTORE was the light after some very dark days. Before enrolling onto the programme, she says she felt stuck and alone. Despite her previous nursing experience, she tried to register with the NMC herself twice, unsuccessfully. But joining ReSTORE was a turning point.
The transition process may affect confidence, but not competence
With guidance and support, Viv secured a clinical support worker role in the NHS, which helped rebuild her confidence, refresh her clinical skills and successfully complete her registration.
Viv says that refugee nurses bring valuable clinical experience, resilience and commitment to patient care.
“We may be new to the UK health care system, but we’re not new to nursing.
“Forced migration means we’ve had to rebuild our careers while adapting to a new language and culture. What we need most is understanding.
"The transition process may affect confidence, but not competence."
Bright futures
ReSTORE has been attracting attention from the very beginning.
In 2023, NHSE for North East and Yorkshire nominated Blerta to meet King Charles, for her contribution to NHS workforce diversity. And in June 2025, Blerta was invited to speak at the G7 expert series about ReSTORE as a leading model of refugee integration.
Mimie and Viv shared their stories with world leaders too, demonstrating the real-life impact ReSTORE has on its participants.
We’ve become an international family, we’ve built ReSTORE together
Blerta works tirelessly to showcase the programme and extend its reach.
Subject to funding, the ReSTORE team hopes to expand the programme further across the region, supporting a wider range of refugee nurses, midwives and allied health professionals.
Shared ambitions, shared hope
The positive impact of the programme on Mimie, Viv and the other participants is clear to see, but Blerta remains unflinchingly altruistic.
"We’ve become an international family, we’ve built ReSTORE together.
"We’ve all had difficult journeys, we all trained as health care professionals in our countries of origin, and we all share the same passion, dreams and ambitions to contribute to the country we now call home."
Further information
You can read more about the ReSTORE programme, including information about how to apply.
If you are over 18 and live in Wales, find out about the RCN’s Health Care Careers for Displaced People.
