Recruiting Social Care Workers from Overseas

How to recruit internationally in the Social Care sector?

The Social Care sector has over the years faced crisis due to staff shortages and funding issues. Recruitment of staff overseas social care workers in the UK has at times become challenging. Thus, it has become more essential than ever for UK-based Social Care establishments to look into recruiting Social Care Workers from overseas.

Generally, the overseas recruitment process can seem daunting, but, by following the correct steps, UK companies can take advantage of new Government changes to immigration rules.

In February 2022, the UK Government added further Social Care worker jobs to the UK’s Shortage Occupation List on a temporary 12 month basis, meaning that migrant workers in the social care sector can take apply for a Health and Care visa to come to the UK for work.

If you would like assistance with international recruitment, or if you require guidance to apply for a Health and Care Worker visa, call our team at Birmingham Immigration Lawyers today on 0121 667 6530 for immediate help.

Shortage Occupation List

On a temporary basis, international Health and Social Care workers can apply for a Health and Care Worker visa. Previously, only senior care workers and care managers were able to apply, but since changes were made to the Shortage Occupation List, the international recruitment of care worker visa applicants process has become more inclusive to all Social Care staff members.

Carers, Support Workers, Home Carers, and Care Assistants can apply for the visa under occupation code 6145.

Recruiting Social Care Workers from overseas usually requires sponsorship from the overseas care workers’ new UK employer. In order to sponsor Health and Social Care Workers, the Social Care company must hold a valid Sponsor Licence.

It is important to note that sponsorship from a Sponsor Licence holder does not guarantee access to UK visas.

The Health and Care Worker visa

The Health and Care Worker is a UK work visa exclusive to medical professionals who wish to work in the UK for the NHS, and NHS supplier, or, in the Adult Social Care sector.

Similar to the Skilled Worker route, migrant workers can gain access to the UK for up to five years at a time to work for a sponsored employer in the United Kingdom.

However, unlike the Skilled Worker visa, the Health and Care Worker visa offers sponsored employees reduced visa fees and no payments of the Immigration Health and care workers Surcharge. This means it is a more efficient and cheaper way to enter the country to work in the UKs Health and Social Care field.

Appointed international Health and Care visa holders will be subjected to the appropriate pre-employment checks before they can be offered an employment contract with UK-based Social Care providers.

Health and Care visa requirements

Health and Social Care staff looking to apply for a Health and Care visa must meet the following requirements:

Job Requirements

• Be a qualified doctor, nurse or other health and care professional (unless you are applying under SOC 6145)
• Work in an eligible Health and Social Care job
• Work for a UK employer that has been approved by the Home Office
• Have a Certificate of Sponsorship from a UK employer with a valid Sponsor Licence
• Be paid the minimum salary for your job offer

If you are unsure if your Health and Social Care job is eligible, you can check online via the Government website.

Other visa requirements

• Meet the minimum salary requirement for newly appointed international Health and Social Care workers of £20,480 or the going rate- whichever is higher
• Meet the minimum maintenance requirement of £1,270
• Meet the minimum English language requirement of level B1 on a Secure English Language Test

What you can and cannot do with a Health and Care visa

Health and Care visa holders can do the following in the UK:

• Work an eligible job
• Do voluntary work
• Study
• Bring their partner and children to the UK
• Travel to and from the UK
• Apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain after five years of continuous lawful residence in the United Kingdom

Health and Care Worker visa holders cannot do the following:

• Apply for public funds- such as means-tested benefits and the state pension
• Change jobs or employers without changing or updating their visa

How to apply for a Health and Care Worker visa

You can apply online for a skilled worker visa applicants a Health and Care Worker visa. You must apply using the Skilled Worker visa application form on the Government website. You should fill out the form as normal but ensure that you check the UK visas subcategory box- this is essential, otherwise your application may be rejected.

The application form should be submitted with the correct reduced visa fees and supporting documents.

Applications can take up to three weeks to be processed in total, however, this can depend on the volume of applications the Home Office has received and whether or not you need to attend an interview.

Sponsoring international Social Care staff

The Health and Care Worker visa route requires the applicant to seek sponsorship from a UK employer with a valid Sponsor Licence. They must issue the prospective employee with a valid Certificate of Sponsorship no more than three months before they apply for their Health and Care visa as part of the international recruitment process.

Care workers are not permitted to be sponsored by a private household or any other individual unless this person is deemed a sole trader.

Sponsoring employers who do not already hold a Sponsor Licence authorised to sponsor overseas workers from the Health and Care visa category must apply for the correct Sponsor Licence as soon as possible. Employers should consider applying for a Sponsor Licence as soon as possible to avoid delaying the international recruitment process.

How much does a Sponsor Licence cost?

The cost of a Sponsor Licence depends on the scale of the company and the type of sponsorship licence that they require.

Small or Charitable sponsor

• Temporary Worker Licence- £536
• Worker Licence- £536

Medium and Large organisations

• Temporary Worker Licence- £536
• Worker Licence- £1,476
• Temporary Worker and Worker Licence- £1,476

In addition to the cost of the Sponsor Licence itself, the organisation must be able to pay for each Certificate of Sponsorship they issue- this usually costs £199 per Certificate.