Hiring and Sponsoring Registered community nurses (SOC Code 2232)

Registered Community Nurses, classified under SOC Code 2232, are vital healthcare professionals dedicated to delivering nursing care within community settings. They play a crucial role in promoting public health and supporting patient well-being through various responsibilities including:

• Planning, managing, and providing comprehensive nursing care services tailored to individual patient needs.
• Monitoring patients' general health, including vital signs such as blood pressure and body temperature.
• Administering medications and treatments, including the application of surgical dressings.
• Assisting medical doctors in conducting examinations and performing medical procedures.
• Managing their own caseload, ensuring personalized care and attention for each patient.
• Educating patients and their families about rehabilitation routines, disease prevention, nutrition, and daily care strategies.

With an increasing focus on community health and preventative care, the demand for registered community nurses in the UK is on the rise. This guide is designed to assist HR professionals in navigating the process of hiring and sponsoring registered community nurses under the UK’s immigration system.

What is SOC Code 3411 for Registered community nurses?

SOC Code 2232 refers to registered community nurses who play a vital role in delivering healthcare services within community settings. Their responsibilities can include:

• Planning and managing care: Developing and implementing care plans tailored to individual patient needs.
• Monitoring health: Assessing and regularly checking patients' general health indicators such as blood pressure and body temperature.
• Administering treatments: Providing medications, applying surgical dressings, and delivering other necessary forms of treatment.
• Assisting healthcare professionals: Supporting doctors during examinations and various medical procedures.
• Managing caseloads: Balancing and overseeing individual patient care effectively.
• Educating patients and families: Providing guidance on rehabilitation, daily care routines, disease prevention, and nutritional advice.

Registered community nurses are essential to community health, ensuring that patients receive comprehensive, continuous care while promoting overall wellbeing and health education.

Eligibility to Hire Registered community nurses (SOC Code 3411)

1. Job Requirements

Registered Community Nurses must exhibit a blend of clinical competencies and interpersonal skills to provide effective nursing care within community settings. The following qualifications and criteria are necessary:

• Licensure: Valid nursing license and registration as a Registered Nurse in the relevant jurisdiction.
• Clinical Experience: Proven experience in community nursing or a related healthcare environment.
• Patient Care Skills: Proficiency in assessing patient conditions, monitoring vital signs (e.g., blood pressure, body temperature), and delivering basic care.
• Medication Administration: Knowledge and experience in administering medications, including understanding protocols for drugs and medicines.
• Wound Care: Ability to apply surgical dressings and provide necessary treatments as prescribed.
• Collaborative Skills: Experience in assisting physicians during examinations and procedures, showcasing ability to work in a multidisciplinary team.
• Case Management: Experience in managing a personal caseload effectively while prioritizing patient needs.
• Patient Education: Skills in educating patients and families about care routines, disease prevention, nutrition, and rehabilitation processes.
• Communication Skills: Strong verbal and written communication abilities are essential for interacting with patients, families, and healthcare teams.

Ensuring the job description aligns with SOC Code 2232, candidates must demonstrate capability and experience that meet the standards expected for the role of a Registered Community Nurse.

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

Sponsoring Registered community 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 Registered community nurses under SOC Code 2232.

Step 1: Obtain a Sponsor Licence

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

• Defined vs Undefined CoS: Use a Defined CoS for Registered community 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 Registered community 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 Registered community 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 Registered community nurses

Before the Registered community 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 Registered community nurses’s passport and visa. 
• Online Right to Work Check: If the Registered community 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 Registered community nurses’s employment details, salary and contact information. 
   • Reporting Changes: Report any significant changes to the Registered community 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 Registered community nursess.

How Borderless Can Help with Sponsoring Registered community nurses

Sponsoring Registered community nurses under SOC Code 2232 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 Registered community nurses, get in touch for personalised support.

Conclusion

Hiring and sponsoring Registered community nurses under SOC Code 2232 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.