Care Home Sponsor Licence Application Guidance UK

The UK government launched the Health and Care Visa in August 2020 in response to the rising need for skilled professionals in the health and care industries. This Visa was created to fill a critical gap in the UK's labour market and guarantee that the National Health Service (NHS) and the social care sectors have sufficient qualified workers to meet the growing service demand.

The demand for healthcare services has increased with the population's average age. However, the supply of qualified healthcare professionals has not kept pace. 

Another reason for making the Health and Care Visa was to ensure that skilled workers in the health and care sectors would still want to come to the UK. The introduction of the Health and Care worker visa,has shown the UK Government’s commitment to ensuring that foreign health and care workers have the opportunity to work and reside in the country.

When it comes to working in the United Kingdom, healthcare professionals can take advantage of several perks thanks to the increased flexibility to allow hospitals, NHS trusts and care homes to sponsor individuals from around the world. 

1. Placed at the Front of the Queue: Healthcare workers applying for the Health and Care worker visa can anticipate a decision within approximately 15 working days. Their applications are placed at the front of queue for processing meaning that their applications will be processed first. 

2. Lower Application Fees: Medical professionals can save money on the application process while applying for a Health and Care Visa. There is a significant discount on the normal skilled worker visa application fee and they are exempt from paying the Immigration Health Surcharge saving £624 per year.

3. Possibility of settling in the UK: Healthcare workers can apply for permanent residency on a Health and Care worker visa after five years of working in the UK. Settlement offers excellent safety and stability and allows healthcare professionals to stay in the UK for the long haul.

4. Family members can accompany you: Medical personnel applying for or granted a Health and Care worker visa can bring their families to the UK.

To be granted a Health and Care worker visa to work in the health and social care industries in the United Kingdom, applicants must meet several criteria. 

In particular, you need to:

1. Obtain an offer of employment from a UK company recognized by the Home Office, and have a "certificate of sponsorship" detailing the position you'll be filling in the UK.

2. Be paid the relevant salary for your role.

3. You should be able to communicate in English to the relevant level. Applicants must be able to evidence this by an approved method.

4. Be able to support and maintain yourself during the first month of your leave.

You can only apply for the UK Health and Care worker visa if you have a confirmed offer of employment which has a Standard Occupational Classification Code ((SOC) code) (i.e. a job code) that meets the visa requirements. If you've been offered a job but aren't sure if it meets the requirements, you can verify it by asking your prospective employer for the four-digit SOC code and looking it up on the Home Office's website.

Individuals with roles fulling under the following SOC codes can apply for a UK Health and Care worker visa (please note that these can change and roles may be removed or added at short notice):

• 1181: health services and public health managers and directors
• 1242: residential, day, and domiciliary care managers and proprietors
• 2112: biological scientists and biochemists
• 2113: physical scientists
• 2211: medical practitioners
• 2212: psychologists
• 2213: pharmacists
• 2214: ophthalmic opticians
• 2215: dental practitioners
• 2217: medical radiographers
• 2218: podiatrists
• 2219: health professionals that are "not elsewhere classified," such as audiologists and occupational health advisers
• 2221: physiotherapists
• 2222: occupational therapists
• 2223: speech and language therapists
• 2229: therapy professionals that are "not elsewhere classified," such as osteopaths and psychotherapists
• 2231: nurses
• 2232: midwives
• 2442: social workers
• 3111: laboratory technicians
• 3213: paramedics
• 3216: dispensing opticians
• 3217: pharmaceutical technicians
• 3218: medical and dental technicians
• 3219: health associate professionals not elsewhere classified
• 6141: nursing auxiliaries and assistants
• 6143: dental nurses
• 6145: care workers and home carers
• 6146: senior care workers

You must receive the job offer from an organisation that falls within those listed on in the guidance for a Health and Care visa, and include NHS Trusts, private providers of NHS care, Social care or a care home. You must also be working for an organisation that is completing activities which are considered regulated activities.

The answer will largely come down to the type of work you do when determining the base wage. You will need to be paid at least £10.75 per hour, or £26,200 per year,or the 'going rate', whichever is higher. Please note that there are a number of exceptions that mean that your salary could be lower, such as holding a shortage occupation role (many roles in the Health and Care sector fall into this category). 

Where you fall into an exception, your salary can be as low as £20,960 per year or between 90-70% of the `going rate`, or £10.75 per hour. 

It is possible to apply for this visa and be sponsored as a caregiver in the UK, even if your salary exceeds the above salary requirements.

The UK government made certain temporary modifications to the immigration rules in February 2022. They brought these changes into force to alleviate the pressure put on the adult social care services industry caused by the pandemic and major labour shortages.

As a result of the changes, over the next 12 months, caregiving jobs, including those in private homes, will be included in the list of occupation categories qualifying for the Skilled Worker route. These positions have also been included in the Shortage Occupation List (SOL), which means that applicants may be offered lower pay while still being eligible for a visa.

The amendments were proposed by the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC). This independent group provides advice to the Home Office on migration-related matters. The reforms are expected to alleviate some of those constraints in the short term.

A Skilled Worker sponsor licence is necessary if your organisation intends to sponsor foreign health and care workers through the Health and Care worker route. All of the following caregiver sponsor visa requirements must be in place before your company may apply:

1. A well-established presence in the UK market.

2. Evidence that you are registered by one of the registered organisations such as the Quality Care Commission.

3. Have an individual inside the UK who can act in key roles such as that of the "Authorising Officer." This individual will be held accountable for the Sponsor License but may delegate immigration-related tasks to a co-worker.

Once you meet the visa requirements, you can apply for a Skilled Worker Sponsor Licence. The steps you need to follow include the following:

1. Submit an application online and pay the relevant fee.

2. Provide the relevant documents to the Home Office within 5 working days.

3. Once the Sponsor Licence is approved, begin to sponsor foreign workers.

4. Undertake your sponsor duties.

The Home Office places your application at the front of the queue and advices that a decision should be made about three weeks after you submit your application online or attend an appointment (if you are applying outside the UK, and in some circumstances inside the UK).

Documents You Must Provide

There are some documents you must bring regardless of your situation, whereas others will depend on special circumstances. 

Following are some documents that you must get when applying for your visa:

1. Your current passport

2. Your certificate of sponsorship (COS) which confirms that your role meets the requirements for the Health and Care visa.

3. Evidence of your proficiency in English

4. Your Overseas Criminal Record check (if applicable)

5. Evidence of meeting the maintenance requirement

Documents That Depend on Your Situation

Depending on your situation, you might need to bring some additional documents. Sorting through what documents you need can be challenging for anyone to understand. Fortunately, during such situations, Immigration lawyers can advise you on what documents you need to submit. 

Some documents you need that depend on your personal circumstances include:

1. Documentation of your family status if applying with a spouse or children.

2. Test results for tuberculosis if you resident in a country listed in the immigration rules

3. A certificate states that you have no criminal record; you only need this for specific jobs. 

4. Certified English Language translations of any documents not in English or Welsh.

5. Evidence of cohabitation if you are bringing an unmarried partner.

Your Health and Care worker visa can be extended, providing that you, your sponsor, your salary and your role still continue to meet the requirements at the time of applying. 

Your spouse or children can have their visas extended, either at the same time as you or at a later date. They must apply before their current visa expires.

When you apply for a Health and Care Worker visa, you will pay the following fees for your application: 

• Three years or less: £247 per applicant
• More than three years: £479 per applicant

Meeting the Maintenance Requirement

You must prove that you can financially sustain yourself in the United Kingdom by having a minimum of £1,270 in your bank. Your funds must be continuously available to you for 28 days at least. Your ban statement confirming the 28th day must be within the last 31 days.  Alternatively, your sponsor can confirm that they will maintain you for the first month of your leave. 

Your spouse and children can apply as "dependents" to join you in the United Kingdom or to extend their stay. Your family must produce proof of your relationship, i.e. marriage certificates/birth certificates. 

The following individuals can apply:

• Spouses, civil partners, or unmarried partners.
• Children, including those born in the UK during your visit, who are under the age of 18.
• Children that are over the age of 18 and are living in the UK on a dependant visa, who are not living an independent life.

You can check the following section to find out whether your partner and your children are eligible as dependents for your Health and Care Visa:

Your dependents need to provide the following documents: 

• Their passports
• Evidence of their relationship to you
• Current UK visas
• Cohabitation documents or children over the age of 16 need to produce evidence that they remain financially and emotionally reliant on you.

If they apply with you outside of the UK it can take up to 15 working days to receive a decision. If applicants apply with you inside the UK, their application should be placed at the front of the queue along with yours, however, if they apply separately, their application will be processed in accordance with the Home Office’s service standards of eight weeks.

You may be eligible to settle in the UK after five years inside the UK. This is known as "indefinite leave to remain" (ILR). With ILR, you don't have to worry about applying for any other types of visas or work permits to continue living in the United Kingdom, or to switch roles or employers. You must meet all the criteria if you want to apply for ILR.

To be eligible for ILR under this visa, you must have been in the UK continuously for five years on this visa. You must also have experience working in a relevant health or social care profession throughout that time. You must also prove you can communicate well in English and pass the Life in the UK test.

You should always ensure you have the most recent information by checking the official UK government website or speaking with an immigration lawyer, before applying for ILR.

Medical professionals and their families from an EEA country or Switzerland working in the United Kingdom prior to 11pm (GMT) on 31st  December 2020, and wishing to remain in the country after Brexit must apply under the EU Settlement Programme.

Applicants should have submitted their applications by 30th June 2021, unless they fall into a category of which has an extended deadline.

With a number of years experience in the Health and Care visa, WestBridge is the law company to contact. The firm's staff of immigration attorneys can help you through every step of the visa application procedure, from the initial consultation to the approval letter.

WestBridge's initial consultation can help you determine if you qualify for a Health and care  visa, a crucial step in the application process. At this meeting, a lawyer will evaluate your situation to see if you meet the visa requirements. 

You will receive helpful guidance on submitting your application, including what information to include and how to overcome potential obstacles. If you meet the requirements for this visa, WestBridge can help you fill out the paperwork and organise the submission of your form and biometric information. 

The immigration lawyers at the firm will see that your application is comprehensive, correct, and submitted on time. They will also instruct you on finishing the remaining requirements, such as obtaining Home Office approved English language evidence.

WestBridge can assist you with requesting a review of the decision if your application is refused. The firm's seasoned lawyers will advise you throughout the process to avoid unnecessary delays.

If you are applying for a Health and Care worker visa, WestBridge can offer you thorough support and guidance every step of the way. WestBridge is an excellent option for anyone seeking a Health and Care worker visa in the UK due to its in-depth understanding of UK immigration law and dedication to delivering the best service service.