Hiring and Sponsoring Midwifery Nurses (SOC Code 2231)

Midwifery Nurses, classified under SOC Code 2231, are vital healthcare professionals dedicated to providing comprehensive care to mothers and newborns during pregnancy, birth, and the postnatal period. Their expertise is essential in ensuring safe and healthy delivery outcomes. As healthcare systems continue to evolve, the demand for qualified midwifery nurses remains high, creating opportunities for skilled practitioners to enter the workforce. 

This guide aims to assist HR professionals in understanding the role and responsibilities of midwifery nurses within the UK’s healthcare framework.

• Key Responsibilities:
  • Monitor patient and baby conditions throughout pregnancy.
  • Deliver babies during normal births and assist with difficult deliveries alongside doctors.
  • Oversee recovery of mothers in the postnatal period and supervise the care of premature and critically ill infants.
  • Provide guidance on issues related to baby care, exercise, diet, and family planning.
  • Supervise junior staff and direct operations within the midwifery unit.
  • Plan and manage midwifery care services to enhance patient outcomes.
  • Deliver educational lectures and training to promote midwifery best practices.

With the increasing focus on maternal and infant health, the role of midwifery nurses is more crucial than ever, making the recruitment and support of these professionals a priority for healthcare providers across the UK.

What is SOC Code 3411 for Midwifery Nurses?

SOC Code 2231 refers to Midwifery Nurses who provide specialized care to expectant mothers and newborns. Their responsibilities can include:

• Monitoring patient and baby conditions: Observing the health and progress of both the mother and baby throughout pregnancy.
• Delivering babies: Assisting in normal births and providing support to doctors during complicated deliveries.
• Postnatal care: Overseeing the recovery of the mother after birth and supervising the care of premature or special-needs infants.
• Providing guidance: Advising families on baby care, nutrition, exercise, and family planning issues.
• Supervising staff: Leading and directing the activities of junior nursing staff within the midwifery unit.
• Planning and managing services: Developing and organizing midwifery care services to meet community needs.
• Training and education: Delivering lectures and various training programs to enhance midwifery practice and education.

Midwifery Nurses play an essential role in maternal and child health, ensuring safe and effective care during the journey of pregnancy and childbirth.

Eligibility to Hire Midwifery Nurses (SOC Code 3411)

1. Job Requirements

Midwifery Nurses must possess the relevant qualifications, skills, and experience to provide exceptional care to patients and their newborns. Applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Registered Nurse License: Must hold an active nursing license with a specialization in midwifery.
• Educational Qualifications: A degree in nursing with an emphasis on midwifery or a related field is required.
• Clinical Experience: Demonstrated experience in obstetric care, including prenatal, labor, delivery, and postnatal support.
• Skills: Proficient in fetal monitoring, neonatal resuscitation, and the delivery of care during pregnancy and childbirth.
• Communication Skills: Ability to effectively advise patients on baby care, family planning, and nutrition.
• Leadership Capabilities: Experience supervising junior staff and managing a midwifery unit.
• Continuing Education: Commitment to ongoing professional development, including attending lectures and training in midwifery practice.

Ensure that the qualifications and experience align with SOC Code 2231 and meet the expectations for the role within the healthcare setting.

1. Salary Thresholds
2. Use the Minimum Salary Calculator to ensure your salary offer meets immigration requirements.

Sponsoring Midwifery Nurses: A Step-by-Step Guide for HR Professionals

Once you’ve confirmed that the role and candidate meet the eligibility requirements, follow this step-by-step guide to sponsoring Midwifery Nurses under SOC Code 2231.

Step 1: Obtain a Sponsor Licence

Before hiring non-UK Midwifery Nurses, your company or institution must obtain a sponsor licence. This licence enables you to legally sponsor overseas Midwifery Nurses under the Skilled Worker Visa program.

• Sponsor Licence Application: Submit documentation proving that your business is legitimate and has a genuine vacancy. Visit the sponsor licence application guide for more information. 
• Sponsor Licence Fees: Small businesses typically pay £574, while larger institutions pay £1,579. For more information, visit the sponsor licence fees guide. 
• Processing Time: Applications typically take up to 8 weeks, but using the Sponsor Licence Priority Service can reduce the processing time to 10 working days.

Once your sponsor licence is approved, you will receive a sponsor licence number, which allows you to assign Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS).

Step 2: Assign a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS)

Once you have your sponsor licence, the next step is to assign a CoS to the Midwifery Nurses. This document provides key details about the job and the individual being sponsored.

• Defined vs Undefined CoS: Use a Defined CoS for Midwifery Nurses applying from outside the UK, and an Undefined CoS for those already in the UK. Learn more in the Defined & Undefined Certificates of Sponsorship guide. 
• Required Documents: Provide details such as the Midwifery Nurses’s portfolio, passport and job offer. Refer to Documents Required for Certificate of Sponsorship for a full list of necessary documents.

Step 3: Apply for the Skilled Worker Visa

Once the CoS is issued, the Midwifery Nurses can apply for the Skilled Worker Visa.

• Visa Fees: Fees vary depending on the role and visa length—use the visa fees calculator to estimate the costs. 
• Immigration Skills Charge: Employers are required to pay this charge as part of sponsoring non-UK workers. This is separate from visa fees.

Conducting a Right to Work Check for Midwifery Nurses

Before the Midwifery Nurses begins working, you must conduct a right to work check to ensure they are legally allowed to work in the UK.

• Manual Right to Work Check: Verify original documents such as the Midwifery Nurses’s passport and visa. 
• Online Right to Work Check: If the Midwifery Nurses holds an eVisa, you can use the UK government’s online system to verify their right-to-work status.

For more details on how to perform these checks, see the right to work check guide.

Post-Hiring Responsibilities and Compliance

1. Record-Keeping and Reporting  
2. • Record-Keeping: Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of the Midwifery Nurses’s employment details, salary and contact information. 
   • Reporting Changes: Report any significant changes to the Midwifery Nurses’s role—such as promotions or salary increases—via the Sponsor Management System (SMS).
3. Sponsor Licence Duties and Compliance
4. Failure to comply with your sponsor licence duties can result in penalties or sponsor licence revocation, impacting your ability to sponsor future Midwifery Nursess.

How Borderless Can Help with Sponsoring Midwifery Nurses

Sponsoring Midwifery Nurses under SOC Code 2231 can be a complex process, but Borderless can simplify it for you. We offer comprehensive support to help you manage the entire sponsorship process.

End-to-End Sponsorship Support

At Borderless, we assist with:

• Sponsor Licence Application: Guiding you through the application process and ensuring all required documents are submitted correctly. 
• Certificate of Sponsorship Assignment: Streamlining the CoS process to make hiring easier. 
• Compliance Management: Helping you stay compliant with immigration laws to avoid penalties.

If you need assistance with hiring or sponsoring Midwifery Nurses, get in touch for personalised support.

Conclusion

Hiring and sponsoring Midwifery Nurses under SOC Code 2231 can be a rewarding way to enrich the cultural landscape of your organisation. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can successfully navigate the sponsorship process while ensuring compliance with UK immigration laws.

For further guidance, Borderless is ready to assist you with all your sponsorship needs. Contact us for expert advice.