Hiring and Sponsoring Nursing Auxiliaries and assistants (SOC Code 6131)

Nursing Auxiliaries and Assistants, classified under SOC Code 6131, are essential healthcare support professionals who play a vital role in providing high-quality care to service users in various settings. Their responsibilities encompass a wide range of tasks aimed at ensuring the emotional, physical, and spiritual wellbeing of individuals. With an increasing demand for healthcare services in the UK, many institutions are actively seeking skilled nursing auxiliaries and assistants from both local and international talent pools. This guide will assist HR professionals in understanding the process of hiring and sponsoring nursing auxiliaries and assistants under the UK’s immigration system.

• Assist service users in all aspects of their care needs:
• • Physical, emotional, and spiritual support.
  • Maintaining dignity and individuality of service users.
• Perform basic clinical tasks:
• • Conduct blood tests and urine samples.
  • Take temperature and pulse checks.
• Provide support with daily living activities:
• • Help service users with limited mobility or disabilities.
  • Utilize aids and equipment as needed for optimal care.
• Nutritional support:
• • Distribute and serve food to patients.
  • Prepare meals and snacks and assist with feeding.
• Personal hygiene assistance:
• • Aid patients with washing, dressing, and toiletry activities.
  • Ensure hygiene practices are maintained in line with health standards.
• Professional development:
• • Attend required training days or courses, on or off-site.
• Documentation:
• • Complete daily records as instructed, adhering to company policies and procedures.

By understanding these roles and responsibilities, HR professionals can streamline the hiring process for nursing auxiliaries and assistants, contributing positively to the healthcare landscape in the UK.

What is SOC Code 3411 for Nursing Auxiliaries and assistants?

SOC Code 6131 refers to Nursing Auxiliaries and Assistants who provide essential support in healthcare settings. Their responsibilities can include:

• Assisting service users: Supporting individuals with their physical, emotional, and spiritual care needs to maintain dignity and individuality.
• Performing basic clinical tasks: Conducting blood tests, collecting urine samples, and measuring temperature and pulse.
• Maintaining high levels of care: Assisting service users with daily living activities, paying particular attention to those with limited mobility or physical/learning difficulties.
• Meal preparation and assistance: Distributing and serving food, preparing meals and snacks, and aiding patients with eating as needed.
• Personal care support: Helping patients with washing, dressing, and toiletry activities to ensure comfort and hygiene.
• Upholding hygiene practices: Ensuring a clean and safe environment for service users at all times.
• Participating in training: Attending required training days or courses to enhance skills and knowledge in service delivery.
• Documentation: Completing written daily records as instructed, in accordance with company policies and procedures.

Nursing Auxiliaries and Assistants play a vital role in the healthcare sector, ensuring that service users receive compassionate and comprehensive care while promoting their well-being.

Eligibility to Hire Nursing Auxiliaries and assistants (SOC Code 3411)

1. Job Requirements

Nursing Auxiliaries and Assistants must exhibit compassion, dedication, and the ability to work effectively within a healthcare team. Candidates should demonstrate their qualifications and experience through the following criteria:

• Qualifications: A relevant qualification in healthcare or a background in nursing is preferred but not mandatory.
• Experience: Previous experience in a care role or healthcare setting is advantageous.
• Skills:
  • Ability to assist service users with daily living activities, ensuring dignity and respect.
  • Proficiency in performing basic clinical tasks such as blood tests, temperature, and pulse checks.
  • Experience in meal preparation and the ability to assist with feeding.
• Personal Qualities:
  • Empathy and strong communication skills to address the emotional and spiritual care needs of service users.
  • Capability to assist service users with limited mobility or physical/learning difficulties, utilizing appropriate aids.
• Hygiene and Safety: Understanding of hygiene practices and the ability to maintain a clean and safe environment for service users.
• Training: Willingness to attend relevant training days or courses as required by the employer.
• Documentation: Familiarity with completing written daily records in line with the company's policies and procedures.

Ensure the job description adheres to SOC Code 6131, and that the candidate's experience and skills align with the expectations for this vital role in healthcare.

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

Sponsoring Nursing Auxiliaries and assistants: 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 Nursing Auxiliaries and assistants under SOC Code 6131.

Step 1: Obtain a Sponsor Licence

Before hiring non-UK Nursing Auxiliaries and assistants, your company or institution must obtain a sponsor licence. This licence enables you to legally sponsor overseas Nursing Auxiliaries and assistants 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 Nursing Auxiliaries and assistants. This document provides key details about the job and the individual being sponsored.

• Defined vs Undefined CoS: Use a Defined CoS for Nursing Auxiliaries and assistants 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 Nursing Auxiliaries and assistants’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 Nursing Auxiliaries and assistants 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 Nursing Auxiliaries and assistants

Before the Nursing Auxiliaries and assistants 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 Nursing Auxiliaries and assistants’s passport and visa. 
• Online Right to Work Check: If the Nursing Auxiliaries and assistants 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 Nursing Auxiliaries and assistants’s employment details, salary and contact information. 
   • Reporting Changes: Report any significant changes to the Nursing Auxiliaries and assistants’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 Nursing Auxiliaries and assistantss.

How Borderless Can Help with Sponsoring Nursing Auxiliaries and assistants

Sponsoring Nursing Auxiliaries and assistants under SOC Code 6131 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 Nursing Auxiliaries and assistants, get in touch for personalised support.

Conclusion

Hiring and sponsoring Nursing Auxiliaries and assistants under SOC Code 6131 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.