To want to move to the UK? And if not, what part to move to?

School text books and copy books are provided in Ireland now, for all classes/years.

Yes this. I can imagine it might be a culture shock but people aren't horrible for the most part.

There's not necessarily a community feel depending on where you are. If you want to get to know your neighbours go knock on their door, tell them you've just moved in next door and ask them where the best Chinese take away is or if they know a decent dentist to join or something. Don't invite them in for a cuppa right away you'll seem like a weirdo and they might be a genuine weirdo for all you know! And don't be surprised if they peek out the window and then don't answer the door, not everyone is sociable even if they're not horrible. Some people are wary of strangers or have enough friends and don't want more.

Take it easy and become friends slowly with people. Don't seem too desperate, it puts people off. Some jobs people will socialise after work. Plenty of hobby groups to join where people will naturally be more open to making friends.

People can be busy, working all hours to pay for their lifestyle. Reserved, so you'll have to put yourself out there to make friends, they won't come looking for you! And abrupt at times, tired and busy and chasing your tail to get everything done will do that. Full of swearing, some of them, too. Which isn't necessarily nastiness in either case. We'll sometimes call our loved ones an old bastard, for instance, as a term of endearment. Depends on background.

I'm a Londoner. On the whole if you're nice people will be nice back but you'll have to put effort in to make friends. If you're coming from somewhere where people tend to scoop you up and put you under their wing upon first meeting, it might feel cold and rude by comparison. Rowing (the shouty kind not the boaty kind) is practically a hobby too 😉, it doesn't necessarily mean anything or that you're hated, arguing can be a way of hashing things out and coming to some sort of conclusion. It's not necessarily a precursor to murder! And doesn't have to be friendship ending. Being too nice can get you walked all over depending on the setting and who you're dealing with.

People are people wherever you go. Some are shit bags but most are basically ok and some are lovely. If you stay inside and never go out or speak to people and invite them to do things then you'll probably not make friends though.

Whoever said people don't say what they mean is right too, you have to learn to translate. Especially when people don't want to do something they'll politely brush you off with an excuse instead of saying so. If someone randomly says "alright?" They're just saying hi, they probably don't want to know how you are and aren't necessarily trying to start a conversation, but they also aren't going to shoot you for making a comment about the weather or the bus being late or whatever. If you're busy just smile and nod and be on your way. If you do want to chat put the feelers out and see if they respond.

You have transferrable skills. If you don't care what types of work you do, tell the employment agencies you'll take office work like admin etc too. I expect they'll automatically offer you cleaning roles too since part of your job probably involves cleaning up mess at times and carer roles for personal care. The employment agencies just want to basically pimp you out for their cut, so you don't need to worry about looking desperate for ANY job, desperate is good in their eyes! You can specify only support worker roles for permanent, if that's your preference and turn down interviews to other roles you're not interested in. They'll ask you before sending in an application for you anyway. But if the object is to put money in the bank then there's loads of temporary stuff you could do.

Look at roles specifically for Social Workers Assistant too for permanent, you have skills beyond a basic support worker who does all the grunt work. Social workers do overall care plans here, for clients with social services funding or those too mentally impaired and lacking in relatives to organise their own care even if they're rich (social services will organise it but not pay for it for those ones). Although the various care providers, such as the one you worked for, also would have their own care plans written up specific to that organisation for the work they're doing with the client. Mostly it would say what social services told you they wanted and you'd just be ironing out the details of who/how/when. You sound like you've been doing the organising of it more in the way of a social worker TBH. Or perhaps how these companies do it for the rich ones who can organise their own care and don't have a social worker. A social worker assistant doesn't require the same qualifications as an actual social worker.

There's also related roles in woman's charities for helping people fleeing domestic violence or victims of forced marriage, people trafficking etc.

Your qualifications may be equivalent to a BTEC HNC or HND, which are good, so take a look at the syllabus because it might help you to explain yourself to prospective employers at interview. There's bound to be a BTEC for social care, it's the vocational qualification route at colleges, sort of instead of taking a degree route at university. I don't know if we have degrees in social care here, possibly we do and people will understand anyway.

I wouldn't move here at all. If reform get in the country will be well and truly screwed.

I like England, even though it is a bit grumpy at the moment. I agree with PPs saying that the doommongers take a lot of good things in England for granted. We live in Chesham, a small, friendly town that's commutable to London (it's right on the end of the met line). Houses are pricier than in the north for sure, but 300kish would get you a 2/3 bed family home. There are lots of amenities and decentish public transport - in general Buckinghamshire/Chiltern villages are nice places for families - the schools are superb, there's lots of community stuff and I know they are absolutely desperate for people in both your lines of work. Do agree that I am living in fear of the right wing govt possibility but hopefully the more people we have here who want to help others and contribute, the less likely that becomes!

Agree with many other posters about going north. The main problem with Northumberland is that (although it is stunning) the likelihood of you both finding work will probably be slim. Transport also isn’t as good as it could be.

Newcastle/Gateshead/Sunderland/Durham/Teesside have better transport links, housing and job opportunities. You need to be aware that there are pockets of high deprivation and but also high house prices (Gosforth etc). There’s loads of building going on so DH probably won’t find it hard to find work and unfortunately given the nature of our area, neither will you.

There are some beautiful little market towns bordering N Yorkshire that don’t feel the Harrogate/York pricing effect but are close enough to Teesside for work. Stunning countryside too.

I’m from the NW but I’ll never leave the NE, this place is the friendliest on earth imo. It can’t hurt but to try something new, can it?

Could he work at Sellafield, which requires all sorts of jobs, doesn't need to have experience of 'nuclear', it's basically an enormous construction and demolition site.

However, everyone who works there needs to be security cleared, which could be an issue for someone from overseas, not necessarily a barrier, can just take more time.

Check out Whitehaven & Maryport - NW Lakes.

Your budget could buy a gorgeous house by the sea here with the Lake District on your doorstep, there’s a massive shortage of tradesmen due to Sellafield (very highly paid) taking all the decent trades people.

We moved here 3 yrs ago from down south and love it. Such a great way of life.

Different for Ireland 🇮🇪 there's always been a 2 way agreement.

Lincolnshire is very affordable - some beautiful countryside in the south, and good access to major roads/routes for work.

https://niscc.info/who-can-register/qualified-social-workers/

See if your eligible to register

Have you considered Lincolnshire?

Massive county, could live in the city of Lincoln or further afield and still be in reach of the city if you wish.

If you can’t drive, you’ll need to be a bit more selective for public transport reasons, but I live in a very nice village between Lincoln and Sleaford that has a train service between Lincoln and Peterborough, so we’re not completely desolate!!

House prices are pretty favourable to the national average.

And I work for the county council as a Business Support Assistant to Children’s and Adult Social Care. ALWAYS needing qualified SW’s, etc.

I am really sorry that you've experienced this. I'm in the UK for over ten years, South East and the vast majority of English people I've met are lovely, in fact a large amount of them are of Irish heritage.
It's not the same as the Irish friendliness of course but I have had people be especially kind to me, particularly touching at some points eg when I've been lost, tripped over , when small kids have had a tantrum.

On healthcare front I would fact in private healthcare insurance at £200 ish a month

Your not going to get anywhere near as good wages as your on at the moment.

Especially a digger driver. Your husband would need his cpc. If he doesnt want to move about it would be quarry work that comes in around 25k in northern ireland. Not sure if mainland would be much better.

Have you looked at Northern Ireland. You can get quite cheap housing, countey feel and only be less than 10 miles outside of belfast.

This - the col is horrendous,.NHS not existent, rents exorbitant all the young people l know want to escape.

Common Travel Area

New Mills is a very rural and beautiful town and nestled amongst the pennines of the Peak District.

The people are kind and friendly.

Lots of walks there too.

Yes a lot of the English people that I have met here have been extremely cold, rude and nasty. The culture in Southern England is not friendly at all.

I like my job and the geographical area that I am in, but it is the unfriendliness and coldness of people - that will make me leave next year probably.

I have never met people so cold and rude in my life, as I have in Southern England.

OP, would you not try to relocate to Dublin suburbs ? Much of what you want is in Dublin and you would still have the good salaries you are earning now .
I know property is crazy here but you should definitely be able to afford a nice apartment in the suburbs and have every service you want !

Agree. I am northern Irish, living in the south east (London). I’ve lived in England since I came to university here in 1999.

In general, the people are reserved, bordering on unfriendly (in comparison with people back home) and the driving and parking displays breathtaking displays of poor manners. English society is also still quite nuanced: it takes some adjusting to.

I married a Scot: we have similar “Celt” senses of humour and both notice these things about the English. Office life is a total minefield too, as people so rarely say what they actually mean.

I moved from Ireland to England. For a change. I like my job.

But overall I have been unhappy here, as I find the people in my city to very unfriendly.

I am in Southern England where people are stereotypically meant to be unfriendly.

Id advise you to go to the North of England or Wales. People are friendlier there

There are cheaper parts of the UK, but jobs in these areas don't pay well and are few and far between. While property prices are lower, you would struggle to earn enough to purchase a home and to pay bills and groceries as well as have two cars, a holiday and gym membership. Schools could also be a concern.

You will also have to pay council tax in the UK, and this is could be in excess of £2,000 a year. This will seem like a huge amount when you are on a much lower wage.

Sometimes, I think the hardest decision we have to make as adults is where to live.

Im irish. I have an English mother and Irish dad. Im constantly thinking should I move back to Ireland , if i dont do it next year it will be too late and too difficult.

Should I stay in England. Should I stay in the city i am in in england. Should i move city. Should I even move to Italy for a year! I always wanted to live there. If I don't do it now, I will be too old. I think about it a lot

We don't really know what is the best thing to do a lot of the time