Hiring and Sponsoring Social services managers and directors (SOC Code 1172)

Social Services Managers and Directors, classified under SOC Code 1172, are vital leaders in the realm of social care who ensure that services meet both statutory requirements and local authority policies. Their role encompasses a variety of critical functions including:

• Leadership and Management: Providing direction and oversight to ensure effective service delivery in accordance with established policies and legislative mandates.
• Resource Allocation: Assessing staffing, financial, material, and other resources to identify short and long-term needs essential for operational success.
• Work Planning: Developing work schedules, assigning tasks, and delegating responsibilities to social services staff to optimize workflow.
• Performance Monitoring: Evaluating departmental performance with a focus on continual improvement of social service provisions.
• Legislative Advisory: Analyzing and advising on changes in legislation that may influence the operation and delivery of social services.
• Agency Collaboration: Engaging with representatives from relevant agencies to foster inter-agency relations and collaborative work environments.

With an increasing focus on improving social care standards, the demand for skilled social services managers and directors is growing, making it essential for HR professionals to understand the hiring and sponsorship processes within the UK’s immigration framework.

What is SOC Code 3411 for Social services managers and directors?

SOC Code 1172 refers to social services managers and directors who provide leadership and management to ensure the delivery of effective social services. Their responsibilities can include:

• Leadership and management: Ensuring services comply with statutory requirements and local authority policies.
• Resource allocation: Determining staffing, financial, material, and other short and long-term needs.
• Work planning: Planning work schedules, assigning tasks, and delegating responsibilities to social services staff.
• Performance monitoring: Evaluating departmental performance to identify areas for improvement in service provision.
• Legislative advising: Studying and advising on legislative changes that may affect social service delivery.
• Inter-agency collaboration: Liaising with representatives from relevant agencies to enhance service effectiveness.

Social services managers and directors play a vital role in the social care sector, ensuring that services are responsive to community needs and effectively managed.

Eligibility to Hire Social services managers and directors (SOC Code 3411)

1. Job Requirements

Social Services Managers and Directors must exhibit strong leadership and management skills while meeting certain qualifications or experience criteria. These may include:

• Experience: Proven experience in social services management, including supervisory or leadership roles within the sector.
• Educational Background: A degree in social work, public administration, or a related field is often required; advanced degrees (e.g., Master's in Social Work) can be advantageous.
• Knowledge of Regulations: Familiarity with statutory requirements and local authority policies and procedures relevant to social services.
• Financial Acumen: Experience in budgeting and financial management to determine staffing, material, and other resource needs.
• Organizational Skills: Proficiency in planning work schedules, assigning tasks, and delegating responsibilities effectively.
• Assessment and Evaluation: Ability to monitor and evaluate departmental performance to enhance social service provision continually.
• Legislative Knowledge: Capability to study and advise on changes in legislation that affect social service delivery.
• Interagency Collaboration: Strong skills in liaising with relevant agencies and stakeholders to ensure comprehensive service delivery.

Ensure the job description aligns with SOC Code 1172 and that the candidate's experience and qualifications meet the expectations for the role.

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

Sponsoring Social services managers and directors: 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 Social services managers and directors under SOC Code 1172.

Step 1: Obtain a Sponsor Licence

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

• Defined vs Undefined CoS: Use a Defined CoS for Social services managers and directors 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 Social services managers and directors’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 Social services managers and directors 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 Social services managers and directors

Before the Social services managers and directors 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 Social services managers and directors’s passport and visa. 
• Online Right to Work Check: If the Social services managers and directors 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 Social services managers and directors’s employment details, salary and contact information. 
   • Reporting Changes: Report any significant changes to the Social services managers and directors’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 Social services managers and directorss.

How Borderless Can Help with Sponsoring Social services managers and directors

Sponsoring Social services managers and directors under SOC Code 1172 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 Social services managers and directors, get in touch for personalised support.

Conclusion

Hiring and sponsoring Social services managers and directors under SOC Code 1172 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.