NHS Care Assistant Jobs with Visa Sponsorship UK
The National Health Service (NHS) in the United Kingdom offers various job opportunities for healthcare professionals, including care assistants. For individuals from outside the UK seeking employment as care assistants within the NHS, obtaining a visa sponsorship is crucial.
To work as a care assistant in the NHS while residing outside the UK, you will need to apply for the Health and Care Worker visa. This visa category is specifically designed for qualified healthcare professionals, including care assistants, who have secured a job offer from an approved NHS employer or an organization providing adult social care services.
Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible for the Health and Care Worker visa, you must meet the following criteria:
- Job Role: Your job must fall under the eligible occupation codes for care assistants, such as 6135 (care workers and home carers) or 6136 (senior care workers).[2]
- Approved Employer: You must have a job offer from an approved NHS employer or an organization registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) for adult social care services.[2]
- Certificate of Sponsorship: Your employer must provide you with a valid ‘certificate of sponsorship,’ which serves as proof of your job offer and eligibility.[2]
- Minimum Salary: You must be offered a salary that meets or exceeds the minimum threshold, typically £23,200 per year or the ‘going rate’ for the specific care assistant role, whichever is higher.
Application Process
Once you have secured a job offer from an approved NHS employer or adult social care provider, the application process for the Health and Care Worker visa involves the following steps:
- Obtain Certificate of Sponsorship: Your employer will issue you a certificate of sponsorship with a unique reference number, which you will need for your visa application.
- Apply Online: You can complete your visa application online, providing the necessary documents and information, including the certificate of sponsorship reference number.
- Prove English Language Proficiency: You will need to demonstrate your English language proficiency by providing evidence from an approved provider or meeting the exemption criteria.
- Biometric Information: You may need to attend an appointment to provide your biometric information (fingerprints and photographs) as part of the application process.
It’s important to note that the visa application process can take several weeks, so it’s advisable to apply well in advance of your intended start date in the UK.
Duration and Extension
The Health and Care Worker visa is initially granted for a period of up to 5 years. If you wish to continue working in the UK after the initial visa expires, you can apply for an extension as long as you continue to meet the eligibility requirements.
After 5 years of continuous residence in the UK, you may be eligible to apply for indefinite leave to remain (ILR), which would grant you the right to live and work in the UK permanently.
It’s important to note that while the NHS and some adult social care providers may offer visa sponsorship for care assistant roles, not all employers are approved sponsors. It’s advisable to check with potential employers regarding their sponsorship status and the specific requirements for the role you are interested in.
Based on the search results provided, there are a few key qualifications and requirements mentioned for NHS care assistant jobs with visa sponsorship in the UK:
- Legal right to work in the UK or meet visa sponsorship requirements: Applicants must either have the existing legal right to work in the UK or satisfy the criteria for obtaining a Health and Care Worker visa sponsored by the NHS employer.
- Relevant job titles/experience: Experience in roles such as Support Worker, Care Worker, Care Assistant, Domiciliary Care Assistant, Senior Care Assistant, Team Leader, Care Work Assistant, Resident Care Assistant/Worker, Elderly Care Worker/Assistant, Elderly Support Worker, Support Assistant, Enabler, or Healthcare Assistant is typically required or considered for care assistant positions.
- English language proficiency: Candidates may need to demonstrate English language proficiency by providing evidence from an approved provider or meeting exemption criteria as part of the visa application process.
While specific qualifications like certifications or degrees are not explicitly mentioned, the search results emphasize the importance of relevant experience in care-related roles and the ability to meet the visa sponsorship requirements set by the UK government for the Health and Care Worker visa category.
It’s advisable to check with potential NHS employers regarding their specific qualification requirements, as these may vary based on the role and organization.
It’s important to note that the NHS is a nationwide healthcare system, with care facilities and job opportunities distributed throughout the country. While some regions may have a higher demand for care assistants due to factors like population density or demographics, the search results do not indicate any particular regional variations in terms of visa sponsorship opportunities for these roles.
To find more localized information on NHS care assistant jobs with visa sponsorship in specific regions, it would be advisable to consult job portals or directly reach out to NHS employers in the areas of interest for more detailed and up-to-date information.
Thank you for sharing excellent informations Your web site is very cool I’m impressed by the details that you?¦ve on this blog It reveals how nicely you understand this subject Bookmarked this web page, will come back for more articles You, my friend, ROCK! I found simply the information I already searched all over the place and just could not come across What a great web site