Care Assistant Jobs in UK with Visa Sponsorship; The UK healthcare sector has arguably continued to attract foreign talents to its pool, considering the aging population that makes it endearing, specifically the care assistant job has remained one of the most sought after.
A position that offers a rewarding work as well as a stable career, considering its significance, the care job often comes with visa sponsorship, allowing you to live and work in the UK legally.
In this guide, you’ll get to understand the role of a care assistant, opportunities available in the UK, and the visa sponsorship process.
Understanding care assistant job in the UK with visa sponsorship
Generally, the care assistant job is an opportunity in the UK healthcare sector that allows foreign immigrants who meet specific UK immigration conditions to live and work in the UK legitimately.
However, there must be an offer of employment from a licensed UK company who as well makes available a Certificate of Sponsorship to the foreign worker who wish to move into the UK for a care job.
The role of a care assistant
The role of a care assistant in the healthcare sector cannot be underscored, this include providing direct care to individuals who need support for daily living activities.
Care givers work in places like; residential care homes, nursing homes, hospitals, and clients’ own homes.
Care givers support the elderly individuals, people with disabilities, as well as those recovering from illness or injury.
Key responsibilities;
- Personal care: They assist with tasks such as bathing, dressing, and grooming
- Medication management: A care assistant helps clients take their medication as prescribed and on time
- Meal preparation and feeding: Ensuring clients receive nutritious meals and assisting with eating where necessary
- Companionship: Offering companionship and emotional support to reduce feeling of isolation, especially among elderly clients.
- Mobility assistance: Helping clients move around their living environment, this include getting in and out of bed or a wheel chair.
- Complete household task: Light cleaning, laundry, and other duties to maintain a safe and comfortable environment.
- Monitoring health: You should be able to observe and report changes in a client’s condition to healthcare professionals.
Benefits of care assistant job in the UK
- 1. Legal right to work in the UK
The UK sponsorship visa provides care assistant workers with the legal right to work in the UK. The UK immigration rules require potential foreign nationals to obtain a visa prior entry.
- 2. Access to job opportunities in a thriving economy
With a visa sponsorship, care workers gain access to a wide range of job opportunities across various healthcare sector.
Care assistants are on high demand, considering there are spots for them to fill.
- 3. Career growth and professional development
Working in the UK in skilled roles offers a vast opportunity for career growth, sponsored employees often work in a dynamic environment with access to cutting-edge technologies, high-level training programs and development resources.
- 4. Eligibility for UK permanent residency
A long-term benefit of the care assistant UK visa sponsorship is that it leads to permanent residency.
Employees who have worked in the UK for a certain period on a sponsored visa, may be eligible to apply for ILR, this allows you to live and work in the UK without any immigration restrictions, which is also a pathway to the eventual citizenship.
- 5. Ability to bring family members
The UK visa sponsorship often allows employees to bring their immediate family members to the UK through dependent visas.
These dependents are allowed to study, live and in many cases work in the UK.
- 6. Access to quality healthcare
You will have access to the National Health Service which provides comprehensive health services, including general medical care, hospital treatments, and emergency services.
Other benefits include but are not limited to;
- Education for children
- Work flexibility and protection
- Networking and international collaboration
- Opportunity for long-term financial stability
- Stable and secure living environment
- Travel opportunities within the UK and Europe, etc.
Types of care assistant jobs
Home care assistant: Under this cadre, you are required to provide care service to individuals in their own homes, usually through home care agency.
Care home assistant: You will work in residential care homes, providing care to several residents at once.
Live-in care assistant: You will live with a client full-time to provide round-the-clock care.
Nursing assistant: Assisting nurses in hospitals or nursing homes, working with more medically complex cases.
Skills and personal characteristics needed
To be a healthcare assistant, you will need to be;
- Caring and kind
- Cheerful and friendly
- Willing to be hands-on with patients
- Willing to do personal care tasks
- Able follow instructions and procedures
- Good communication skill, listening, etc.
- Organizational skills
- Observational skills
Payments and benefits
Your standard working week will be around 37.5 hours and may include a mix of shifts, such as nights, early starts, evenings and weekends.
You’ll also have access to generous pension scheme and health service, and health service discounts, as well as 27 days of annual leave, plus bank holidays, which increases the longer you’re in service.
There are no set entry requirements to become a healthcare assistant. Employers expect good literacy and numeracy and may ask for GCSEs or equivalent in English and Math.
They may ask for a healthcare qualification, such as BTEC or NVQ.
Employers expect you to have some experience of healthcare or care work, this could be from paid or voluntary work.
How much do healthcare assistants get paid in the UK?
A care assistant in the UK can expect to receive a salary that ranges from 18k pounds to 23k pounds per annum.
However, the NHS may provide more benefits than the private sectors a well as offer more higher wages.
Private employers offer varying compensation packages, however, salary is often equivalent to or above the UK minimum wage.
Care worker visa
The health and care worker visa allows medical professionals, including care assistants, to work in the UK with sponsorship from a licensed employer.
This visa is a part of the skilled worker visa category designed to address the staffing needs of the UK healthcare system.
Eligibility criteria
- Job offer: You must have a valid job offer from an approved UK employer who holds a sponsor license.
- Skill level: Care assistant roles are considered skilled work, you are required to meet skill level, which means having relevant experience or qualifications in care
- English language proficiency: You must prove your ability to speak, read, write, and understand English. This can be done by passing an approved English language test.
- Criminal record certificate: Applicants need to provide a criminal record certificate from any country they have lived in for more than 12 months in the past 10 years.
Application process
- 1. Secure a job offer: You will have to find an employer in the UK who is willing to sponsor your visa. Many care homes and agencies are looking for overseas workers and can assist with the visa process.
- 2. Certificate of Sponsorship: Having received a job offer, your UK employer will issue you a certificate of sponsorship, which you will use to apply for the visa.
- 3. Visa application: You can apply for the care assistant visa online, providing necessary documents such as CoS, proof of English language proficiency, and evidence of qualifications and experience.
- 4. Visa decision: Depending on whether you are applying within or outside the UK, visa decision usually takes 3 to 8 weeks.
The healthcare worker visa is valid for up to 5 years and can be extended if you remain employed in a qualifying role.
After 5 years, you may be eligible to apply for indefinite leave to remain (ILR), allowing you to settle permanently in the UK.
Where to find Care assistant job with visa sponsorship in UK
- 1. Official register of licensed sponsors;
The UK government has a register of licensed sponsors, you may search this database by company name, industry, or location to find organizations authorized to sponsor healthcare assistants.
- 2. Job boards with sponsorship filters;
Major job boards like indeed, LinkedIn, and Glassdoor allow you to filter search results for jobs that offer visa sponsorship for care assistant, providing a stress-free way to identify potential employers
- 3. Recruitment agencies;
Specialist recruitment agencies often work with companies seeking to hire international talent and can help you connect with employers offering sponsorship.
- 4. Company websites;
Check the career pages of large companies and organizations for care assistant opening. They may advertise sponsored roles or have information on their sponsorship policies.
- 5. Networking;
Talk to people in your professional network or join online communities related to healthcare assistant. You may discover companies that are open to sponsoring care assistant workers through word-of-mouth.
- 6. NHS
The NHS is a major employer in the healthcare sector, it’s official job site lists various care assistant roles, they also sponsor visas for eligible candidates
Challenges and rewards
Working as a care assistant in the UK can be both challenging and rewarding. The role requires physical stamina, emotional resilience, and the ability to work long hours, this include nights and weekends.
However, the personal satisfaction to help others alongside the opportunity to build a long-term career in the UK, makes it a popular choice for many foreign workers.
The visa sponsorship process may appear complex, however, for those who meet the requirements and are committed to working in healthcare, the reward can be significant.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Care Assistant Jobs in the UK with Visa Sponsorship: Applications and Guidelines
If you’re considering a career as a Care Assistant in the UK and are seeking visa sponsorship, this FAQ guide provides essential information to help you navigate the application process and understand the requirements.
What are the application requirements?
When applying for Care Assistant jobs, you will typically need:
- A valid job offer from a UK employer.
- Evidence of your qualifications and experience.
- Proof of English language proficiency.
- A clean criminal record check.
- Sufficient funds to support yourself upon arrival in the UK.
Which care agency in the UK has visa sponsorship?
Agincare is a UK visa and immigration license sponsor, helping you to realize your dreams of working in care across the UK.
How do I get a sponsor to work as a Care worker in the UK?
You may get a sponsor by checking through the NHS which is a major healthcare sponsor for skilled visa in the UK.
Check job sites like Indeed, Glassdoor, LinkedIn for openings.
Recruitment agencies may be a good fit to find a care work in the UK, check their websites and filter your results according your job preference for available openings.
You must have a job offer from approved UK employer before you apply for a health and care worker visa. Approved employers are also known sponsors, given they are sponsoring you to live and work in the UK.
What UK companies offer visa sponsorship?
Kindly find the below selection of the major employers who sponsor visa for their employees;
- Barclays
- Clifford Chance
- Ernst & Young
- GSK
- HSBC
- KPMG
- McKinsey and Company
- PrincewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), etc.
What is the new rule on care visa in the UK?
From 11 March 2024, care workers and senior care workers are unable to bring dependents when they migrate to the UK, and only CQC-registered providers in England will be able to sponsor Health Care Visa applicants. All other occupation codes can continue to bring dependents as normal.
What type of visa is needed for care workers in the UK
You can use “Health and care worker visa” which allows medical practitioners to live and work in the UK.
Is the UK care worker visa ending?
The UK care worker visa isn’t ending, it’s evolving rather. Key changes came into effect starting March 11, 2024.
However, SOC 6135 and SOC 6136 are now unable to bring dependents for new applications.
How many hours is a career allowed to work in the UK?
There are no regulations in place to limit the number of hours worked per shift; so long the weekly average is no greater than 48 hours, it’s legally possible for a carer to work for 48 hours straight and have the rest of the week off, provided they consented.
What is the difference between a skilled worker visa and health and care visa
The health and care worker visa is only for medical professionals and those in eligible health and care professions.
The skilled work visa is for other professions and jobs outside of health and care.
Conclusion
Generally, the care assistant job is an opportunity in the UK healthcare sector that allows foreign immigrants who meet specific UK immigration conditions to live and work in the UK legitimately.
However, there must be an offer of employment from a licensed UK company who as well makes available a Certificate of Sponsorship to the foreign worker who wish to move into the UK for a care job.