Hiring and Sponsoring Veterinary nurses (SOC Code 3240)

Veterinary Nurses, classified under SOC Code 3240, are essential members of the veterinary team, providing vital support to veterinary surgeons in the care and treatment of animals. Their responsibilities encompass a range of tasks that ensure high standards of animal welfare and clinical efficiency. Key duties include:

• Assisting Veterinary Surgeons: Supporting during surgical and medical procedures to ensure animal safety and effective treatment.
• Preparing Operating Theatre: Making ready the surgical environment, including sterilising equipment to maintain hygiene.
• Dispensing and Administering Medication: Following veterinarian instructions to provide medications and apply dressings.
• Handling Animals: Safely managing animals during treatment to minimise stress and ensure cooperation.
• Collecting and Analyzing Samples: Gathering blood, urine, and other specimen samples for diagnostic purposes.
• Caring for Hospitalized Animals: Monitoring and looking after animals in veterinary accommodation, ensuring they receive proper care.
• Maintaining Records: Keeping accurate and detailed records of treatments, medications, and animal health.
• Ensuring Biosecurity: Upholding strict biosecurity measures to prevent infection and contamination in the veterinary premises.
• Advising Clients: Providing recommendations on preventative medicine to promote and maintain animal health and welfare.

With an increasing awareness of animal health and well-being, the demand for skilled veterinary nurses in the UK is on the rise. This guide aims to assist HR professionals in understanding the hiring process and sponsorship of veterinary nurses under the UK’s immigration system.

What is SOC Code 3411 for Veterinary nurses?

SOC Code 3240 refers to veterinary nurses who provide essential support in animal healthcare settings. Their responsibilities can include:

• Assisting veterinary surgeons: Supporting during surgical and medical treatments of animals.
• Preparing operating theatre: Ensuring the operating area is sterile and ready for procedures.
• Sterilising equipment: Maintaining a clean and safe environment by disinfecting tools and instruments.
• Dispensing medication: Administering medications and applying dressings to animals under the direction of the veterinarian.
• Handling animals: Safely managing animals during treatment to ensure their well-being.
• Collecting samples: Taking and analyzing blood, urine, and other samples for diagnostic purposes.
• Caring for hospitalized animals: Attending to the needs of animals in hospital accommodation and keeping accurate health records.
• Maintaining biosecurity: Ensuring the veterinary premises are secure and safe to prevent the spread of disease.
• Advising clients: Providing guidance on preventative medicine to promote animal health and welfare.

Veterinary nurses play a vital role in the veterinary care system, enhancing the quality of care for animals and supporting the overall health of the community.

Eligibility to Hire Veterinary nurses (SOC Code 3411)

1. Job Requirements for Veterinary Nurses (SOC Code 3240)

Veterinary nurses must possess a blend of technical skills and compassionate care for animals, meeting specific qualifications and experience criteria, which may include:

• Education and Certification: A recognized qualification in veterinary nursing or an equivalent degree. Certification from an accredited veterinary nursing program is highly desirable.
• Clinical Skills: Proficiency in assisting veterinary surgeons during surgical and medical treatments, including knowledge of operating theatre protocols and sterilization techniques.
• Medication Management: Ability to dispense and administer medication and apply dressings to animals under the direction of a veterinarian.
• Sample Collection and Analysis: Experience in collecting and analyzing blood, urine, and other biological samples, ensuring accurate procedures are followed.
• Animal Care: Competence in caring for animals in hospital settings, including monitoring their health and well-being, while maintaining accurate and detailed records.
• Biosecurity Knowledge: Understanding of biosecurity measures to ensure the safety and health of both animals and veterinary premises.
• Client Communication: Effective communication skills to advise clients on preventative medicine and best practices for maintaining animal health and welfare.

Candidates should ensure their experience and qualifications align with the expectations for the role of a Veterinary Nurse as outlined by SOC Code 3240.

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

Sponsoring Veterinary 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 Veterinary nurses under SOC Code 3240.

Step 1: Obtain a Sponsor Licence

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

• Defined vs Undefined CoS: Use a Defined CoS for Veterinary 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 Veterinary 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 Veterinary 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 Veterinary nurses

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

How Borderless Can Help with Sponsoring Veterinary nurses

Sponsoring Veterinary nurses under SOC Code 3240 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 Veterinary nurses, get in touch for personalised support.

Conclusion

Hiring and sponsoring Veterinary nurses under SOC Code 3240 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.