Hiring and Sponsoring Speech and Language Therapists (SOC Code 2223)

Speech and Language Therapists, classified under SOC Code 2223, are healthcare professionals dedicated to enhancing the communication abilities of individuals facing speech and language challenges. Their role encompasses several key responsibilities:

• Assessment and Diagnosis: 
• • Evaluates and identifies a client's speech and language conditions through various testing methods.
• Treatment Design: 
• • Develops tailored rehabilitation and remedial programs to address specific communication needs.
• Therapeutic Interventions:
• • Implements treatment strategies that may involve coaching, counseling, or the use of artificial communication devices to support clients.
• Collaboration with Specialists:
• • Participates in case conferences and works closely with a multidisciplinary team, including doctors, teachers, social workers, and psychologists.
• Family Support:
• • Provides counseling to relatives, equipping them with strategies to cope with the difficulties arising from a patient’s communication disabilities.
• Documentation and Case Management:
• • Maintains detailed reports and manages a caseload of clients, ensuring ongoing assessment and documentation of progress.

As the UK's healthcare sector evolves, the need for qualified Speech and Language Therapists continues to rise, prompting various healthcare facilities and organizations to explore avenues for recruiting talent both domestically and internationally. This guide aims to assist HR professionals in the process of hiring and sponsoring Speech and Language Therapists under the UK’s immigration system.

What is SOC Code 3411 for Speech and Language Therapists?

SOC Code 2223 refers to Speech and Language Therapists who specialize in assessing and treating communication disorders. Their responsibilities can include:

• Assessing and diagnosing: Evaluating clients to identify speech and language disorders and determining appropriate interventions.
• Designing treatment programs: Crafting individualized rehabilitation and remedial plans tailored to each client's needs.
• Providing therapy: Treating speech and language disorders through coaching, counseling, and the use of artificial communication devices.
• Collaborating with other specialists: Attending case conferences and liaising with doctors, teachers, social workers, and psychologists to ensure comprehensive care.
• Counseling families: Supporting relatives in coping with the challenges associated with a patient’s disability.
• Maintaining documentation: Writing reports and managing client caseloads to track progress and treatments.

Speech and Language Therapists play a vital role in improving communication skills and enhancing the quality of life for individuals with speech and language difficulties.

Eligibility to Hire Speech and Language Therapists (SOC Code 3411)

1. Job Requirements

Speech and Language Therapists must possess the necessary qualifications, skills, and experiences to effectively assess and treat clients. The following criteria must be demonstrated:

• Educational Background: A degree in speech-language pathology or a related field is essential. Additional certifications or specialized training in specific areas of communication disorders may be beneficial.
• Assessment Skills: Proficient in assessing and diagnosing speech and language disorders using standardized tests and personal evaluations.
• Therapeutic Techniques: Ability to design and implement individualized rehabilitation programs tailored to client needs, utilizing counseling techniques and artificial communication devices if necessary.
• Collaborative Skills: Experience in attending interdisciplinary case conferences and successfully liaising with a team of specialists, including doctors, teachers, social workers, and psychologists.
• Client Management: Proficient in documenting client progress through reports and maintaining organized caseloads to monitor treatment efficacy.
• Counseling Abilities: Skilled in providing support and guidance to clients’ families, helping them to address the challenges associated with speech and language disabilities.

Ensure that the qualifications and experience align with SOC Code 2223 and that the candidate’s capabilities meet the expectations for the role.

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

Sponsoring Speech and Language Therapists: 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 Speech and Language Therapists under SOC Code 2223.

Step 1: Obtain a Sponsor Licence

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

• Defined vs Undefined CoS: Use a Defined CoS for Speech and Language Therapists 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 Speech and Language Therapists’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 Speech and Language Therapists 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 Speech and Language Therapists

Before the Speech and Language Therapists 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 Speech and Language Therapists’s passport and visa. 
• Online Right to Work Check: If the Speech and Language Therapists 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 Speech and Language Therapists’s employment details, salary and contact information. 
   • Reporting Changes: Report any significant changes to the Speech and Language Therapists’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 Speech and Language Therapistss.

How Borderless Can Help with Sponsoring Speech and Language Therapists

Sponsoring Speech and Language Therapists under SOC Code 2223 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 Speech and Language Therapists, get in touch for personalised support.

Conclusion

Hiring and sponsoring Speech and Language Therapists under SOC Code 2223 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.