Hiring and Sponsoring Registered specialist nurses (SOC Code 2233)

Registered Specialist Nurses, classified under SOC Code 2233, are essential healthcare professionals who provide specialized care in their areas of expertise. Their role encompasses a wide range of responsibilities, including:

• Patient Assessment: Assessing patients' conditions, determining appropriate treatments, and conducting various medical procedures.
• Consultation and Guidance: Consulting with patients and their families to explain conditions and possible treatment options, as well as providing guidance to other nurses and healthcare professionals.
• Staff Management: Planning duty rotas and organizing the work and training of ward and theatre nursing staff.
• Advisory Role: Advising on nursing care, disease prevention, nutrition, and liaising with hospital boards and management regarding nursing policy issues.
• Care Service Management: Planning, managing, providing, and evaluating nursing care services for patients, ensuring the effective implementation of nursing care plans.
• Training and Education: Delivering lectures and other formal training related to nursing practice to enhance the skills of healthcare staff.

Given the persistent demand for skilled nursing professionals within the UK's healthcare system, many hospitals and healthcare institutions are actively seeking to recruit and sponsor registered specialist nurses from abroad. This guide will assist HR professionals in navigating the complexities of hiring and sponsoring these vital healthcare workers under the UK’s immigration framework.

What is SOC Code 3411 for Registered specialist nurses?

SOC Code 2233 refers to registered specialist nurses who provide expert care in their designated medical fields. Their responsibilities can include:

• Providing specialist care: Delivering tailored medical care based on their area of expertise.
• Assessing patients: Evaluating patients' conditions and determining appropriate treatment plans.
• Conducting medical procedures: Performing a variety of specialized medical interventions and procedures.
• Consulting with healthcare professionals: Offering guidance and support to other nurses and healthcare staff within their specialism.
• Patient and family consultations: Explaining diagnoses and treatment options to patients and their family members.
• Organizing staff: Planning duty rotas and overseeing the work and training of nursing staff in wards and theatres.
• Advising on care practices: Providing expertise on nursing care, disease prevention, and nutrition, as well as collaborating with hospital management on nursing policies.
• Evaluating nursing care services: Planning, managing, and assessing the delivery of nursing care services for patients.
• Delivering education and training: Conducting lectures and formal training sessions related to nursing practice.

Registered specialist nurses play a vital role in the healthcare system, enhancing patient outcomes, educating staff, and shaping nursing practices.

Eligibility to Hire Registered specialist nurses (SOC Code 3411)

1. Job Requirements

Registered specialist nurses must exhibit a high level of expertise in their field and fulfill specific qualifications and experience criteria. These may include:

• Professional registration: Valid registration with the relevant nursing regulatory body (e.g., NMC in the UK).
• Specialization: Demonstrated experience or qualifications in a specific area of nursing such as pediatrics, geriatrics, critical care, or mental health.
• Clinical skills: Proficiency in performing a variety of medical procedures and treatments relevant to their nursing specialty.
• Assessment abilities: Strong skills in patient assessment, care planning, and evaluation of nursing care effectiveness.
• Education: A degree in nursing or a related field, with advanced training in a specialized area being highly advantageous.
• Communication skills: Excellent interpersonal skills for effective consultations with patients, families, and interdisciplinary healthcare teams.
• Leadership experience: Proven ability to organize and direct nursing staff, including planning duty rotas and supervising training initiatives.
• Policy knowledge: Understanding of the healthcare landscape and nursing policies, capable of liaising with hospital boards/management on nursing care issues.

Ensure that the job description aligns with SOC Code 2233 and that the registered specialist nurse’s experience and work 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 specialist 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 specialist nurses under SOC Code 2233.

Step 1: Obtain a Sponsor Licence

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

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

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

How Borderless Can Help with Sponsoring Registered specialist nurses

Sponsoring Registered specialist nurses under SOC Code 2233 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 specialist nurses, get in touch for personalised support.

Conclusion

Hiring and sponsoring Registered specialist nurses under SOC Code 2233 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.