Hiring and Sponsoring Registered mental health nurses (SOC Code 2235)

Registered Mental Health Nurses, classified under SOC Code 2235, are essential healthcare professionals who specialize in providing comprehensive care and support to individuals with a variety of mental health conditions. Their roles encompass a wide range of responsibilities, including:

• Day-to-Day Support: Delivering consistent care for patients, ensuring their physical and emotional well-being.
• Preparation for Treatment: Assisting in the preparation for both physical and psychological treatments tailored to individual needs.
• Monitoring Progress: Keeping a close eye on patient developments, encouraging active participation in various therapeutic activities.
• Administering Treatments: Delivering medications and other therapeutic interventions as prescribed to aid in recovery.
• Collaboration: Working alongside other mental health professionals to create a holistic approach to patient care.
• Patient Education: Providing crucial information to patients and their families regarding diagnoses, management strategies, and potential treatment options.

With an increasing awareness and focus on mental health in society, the demand for skilled registered mental health nurses continues to rise. As a result, healthcare institutions are actively seeking qualified professionals both domestically and internationally. This guide aims to assist HR professionals in navigating the process of hiring and sponsoring registered mental health nurses under the UK's immigration system.

What is SOC Code 3411 for Registered mental health nurses?

SOC Code 2235 refers to Registered Mental Health Nurses who provide essential support and care for individuals with various mental health conditions. Their responsibilities can include:

• Providing day-to-day support: Assisting patients with daily activities and offering emotional support to promote mental well-being.
• Participating in treatment preparation: Assisting in the preparation for both physical and psychological treatment plans tailored to individual patient needs.
• Monitoring patient progress: Observing and recording changes in patients’ mental states and encouraging their involvement in therapeutic activities.
• Administering medications: Dispensing prescribed medications and managing other forms of treatment to ensure effective care.
• Collaborating with mental health professionals: Working closely with psychiatrists, psychologists, and social workers to deliver comprehensive care.
• Offering information and support: Educating patients and their families about mental health conditions, treatment options, and coping strategies.

Registered Mental Health Nurses play a vital role in promoting mental health, facilitating recovery, and enhancing the quality of life for individuals with mental health challenges.

Eligibility to Hire Registered mental health nurses (SOC Code 3411)

1. Job Requirements

Registered Mental Health Nurses must possess a combination of education, skills, and experience relevant to the mental health field. The following qualifications are essential for this role:

• Educational Background: A degree in nursing with a specialization in mental health or psychiatric nursing. Valid nursing registration is mandatory.
• Clinical Experience: Proven experience in a mental health setting, including hands-on care for patients with various mental health conditions.
• Therapeutic Skills: Ability to engage in therapeutic relationships with patients, encouraging participation in therapies and actively monitoring their progress.
• Medication Administration: Certified to administer medications and treatments, with a strong understanding of pharmacology as it relates to mental health.
• Interpersonal Skills: Strong communication skills to provide information and support to patients and their families regarding mental health conditions, management strategies, and treatment options.
• Team Collaboration: Experience working collaboratively with a multidisciplinary team of mental health professionals to prepare and implement comprehensive treatment plans.

Ensure that the job description aligns with SOC Code 2235 and that the qualifications and responsibilities meet the expectations for the role.

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

Sponsoring Registered mental health 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 mental health nurses under SOC Code 2235.

Step 1: Obtain a Sponsor Licence

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

• Defined vs Undefined CoS: Use a Defined CoS for Registered mental health 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 mental health 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 mental health 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 mental health nurses

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

How Borderless Can Help with Sponsoring Registered mental health nurses

Sponsoring Registered mental health nurses under SOC Code 2235 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 mental health nurses, get in touch for personalised support.

Conclusion

Hiring and sponsoring Registered mental health nurses under SOC Code 2235 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.