The UK Govt have recently introduced new minimum standards for anyone wanting to find work in care, for example in nursing homes by 2015. Given the large percentage of foreign workers in a care setting, it is therefore likely to affect many foreign partners wanting to find work in UK.

Currently, for the purposes of a visa the focus is on speaking and listening and passing Life in UK. Following the introduction of this skills for care standard, it will now mean a wider vocabulary and assessment of writing over and above Visa entrance requirements for those wishing to find work after settlement.

http://www.skillsforcare.org.uk/Qualifications-and-Apprenticeships/Adult-social-care-qualifications/Adult-social-care-vocational-qualifications.aspx

There is a guide to these new standards

http://www.skillsforcare.org.uk/Document-library/Qualifications-and-Apprenticeships/Adult-social-care-qualifications/Guide-to-qualifications-and-standards-in-adult-social-care-201415.pdf

There have been a number of posts about Thai partners finding it difficult to find employment in the UK, I'm aware that some are considering the Care Sector.

These guidelines could affect them, so I will leave this, seemingly off topic, thread open.