Hiring and Sponsoring Residential day and domiciliary care managers and proprietors (SOC Code 1232)

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Hiring a residential, day or domiciliary care manager from overseas is a realistic option for UK care providers, but it requires a sponsor licence and a clear understanding of the SOC 1232 occupation code. This guide explains who qualifies, what the sponsorship rules look like, and how to stay compliant once your hire is in post.

For related support, explore Annaizu’s sponsorship compliance software, mock audit inspection readiness and mock audit preparation.

For 2026 checks, cross-check the latest GOV.UK immigration skills charge before making sponsorship or visa decisions.

Key Takeaways

Essential Points for Care Employers

• SOC Code 1232 covers residential, day and domiciliary care managers and proprietors.
• The role is eligible for Skilled Worker visa sponsorship and sits on the eligible occupation list.
• Care employers must hold a valid sponsor licence and assign a Certificate of Sponsorship before a worker can apply.
• The minimum salary threshold and going rate must both be met - whichever is higher applies.
• CQC registration and compliance obligations run alongside Home Office sponsor duties.

What Is SOC Code 1232?

SOC 1232 is the Standard Occupational Classification code assigned to residential, day and domiciliary care managers and proprietors. Workers in this group plan, organise and direct the provision of care services in residential homes, day centres and domiciliary settings. They manage staff, oversee quality and safety standards, ensure regulatory compliance and liaise with commissioners, families and health professionals.

Typical Job Titles Under SOC 1232

• Registered Care Home Manager
• Domiciliary Care Manager
• Day Care Centre Manager
• Care Services Manager
• Supported Living Manager
• Proprietor of a Residential Care Home

Core Duties in This Occupation

• Planning and managing the delivery of personal and nursing care to residents or service users
• Recruiting, training and supervising care staff and support workers
• Maintaining compliance with CQC fundamental standards and relevant legislation
• Managing budgets, rotas and procurement of equipment and supplies
• Developing care plans and reviewing them in line with individual needs
• Liaising with GPs, social workers, commissioners and family members
• Preparing for and responding to regulatory inspections

Is SOC 1232 Eligible for Skilled Worker Sponsorship?

Yes. SOC 1232 appears on the list of eligible occupations for the Skilled Worker visa. Care managers at this level are treated as skilled roles requiring significant knowledge of care legislation, safeguarding, quality frameworks and people management. This means a UK employer with a valid sponsor licence can recruit from outside the UK to fill a genuine vacancy in this occupation.

Shortage Occupation Considerations

Care workers and home carers under SOC 6145 have appeared on shortage occupation lists, but SOC 1232 managers sit in a different category. Employers should check the current Immigration Salary List and the latest guidance on gov.uk to confirm whether any shortage discount applies at the time of sponsorship, as the rules have changed following the removal of the previous shortage occupation list arrangements.

Salary Requirements for SOC 1232

To sponsor a worker under SOC 1232, you must pay at least the higher of the general salary threshold for Skilled Worker visas or the going rate for the specific occupation code. Both figures are set by the Home Office and are reviewed periodically.

General Salary Threshold

Since April 2024, the general minimum salary threshold for most Skilled Worker roles increased significantly. Employers must ensure the offered salary meets the current minimum before assigning a Certificate of Sponsorship. You should always verify the figure on gov.uk before making an offer, as thresholds have changed and may change again.

Going Rate for SOC 1232

The going rate is the median salary for the occupation as defined by the Home Office using Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings data. For care managers under SOC 1232, the going rate sits above the general threshold for lower-skilled codes. If the going rate for SOC 1232 is higher than the general threshold, you must pay the going rate. Paying below it is a compliance breach that can result in a civil penalty or licence revocation.

New Entrant Rates

• Workers under 26, recent graduates or those switching from a student visa may qualify for a reduced new entrant rate.
• The new entrant rate is typically 70 percent of the going rate, subject to meeting the relevant conditions.
• New entrant status is time-limited and the worker must move to the full going rate before the concession expires.

Sponsor Licence Requirements for Care Employers

To hire a worker from outside the UK, your organisation must hold a Skilled Worker sponsor licence issued by the Home Office. Without one, you cannot assign a Certificate of Sponsorship and the worker cannot apply for their visa.

Applying for a Sponsor Licence

1. Confirm your organisation is a genuine trading entity registered in the UK.
2. Identify an authorising officer, key contact and at least one level 1 user in the Sponsor Management System.
3. Gather supporting documents including CQC registration, proof of premises, HR policies and evidence of genuine vacancies.
4. Complete the online application on gov.uk and pay the application fee.
5. Await a decision - the Home Office may conduct a pre-licence visit for care sector applicants.

CQC Registration and the Home Office

Care homes and domiciliary care providers must be registered with the Care Quality Commission before they can apply for a sponsor licence. The Home Office checks CQC registration as part of its assessment of whether the organisation is a legitimate care employer. An active, unrestricted CQC registration is effectively a prerequisite for care sector sponsors.

Ongoing Sponsor Duties

• Record keeping: maintain up-to-date contact details, job descriptions and copies of right to work documents for every sponsored worker.
• Reporting: notify the Home Office of absences, changes in role or salary, and any concerns about a worker's conduct within ten working days.
• Compliance: cooperate with any Home Office audit or compliance visit and keep HR systems accurate.
• Licence renewal: A-rated licences do not expire automatically but you must keep your SMS account active and your key personnel up to date.

Certificate of Sponsorship for SOC 1232 Roles

Once you hold a licence, you assign a Certificate of Sponsorship to the individual worker. This is a unique reference number rather than a physical document. The worker uses it when making their Skilled Worker visa application.

What to Include on the CoS

• The correct SOC code - 1232 for care managers and proprietors
• The job title as it will appear in the employment contract
• The gross annual salary, which must meet the going rate and general threshold
• The start date and, where applicable, end date of the role
• The place of work, including any addresses where the worker will be based

Defined and Undefined CoS

If the worker is applying from outside the UK, you assign a defined CoS, which requires prior Home Office approval via the SMS. If the worker is already in the UK and switching visa category, you use an undefined CoS from your annual allocation. Care employers recruiting internationally should allow time for the defined CoS request to be processed before the worker submits their application.

Recruitment and Right to Work Obligations

Sponsoring a worker does not remove your obligation to carry out a right to work check. You must check and record the worker's right to work documents before employment begins and repeat checks at the appropriate intervals for time-limited visas.

Right to Work Checks for Sponsored Workers

• Use the Home Office online checking service with the worker's share code for those who have a digital immigration status.
• Keep a dated record of each check, including the result from the online service.
• Repeat the check before the worker's current permission expires to maintain your statutory excuse against a civil penalty.

Genuine Vacancy Requirement

The Home Office requires that every sponsored role is a genuine vacancy. For SOC 1232, this means the care manager position must exist in your organisation, carry real responsibilities, and not have been created artificially to facilitate a visa. Compliance visits often focus on whether the actual work being done matches the job description on the CoS.

Qualifications and Experience Typically Required

There is no single mandatory qualification for a care manager under SOC 1232, but most employers and regulators expect workers in this role to hold relevant professional qualifications and experience.

Common Qualifications for Care Managers

• Level 5 Diploma in Leadership for Health and Social Care (or equivalent NVQ)
• Degree in social work, nursing or a related health profession
• Management qualifications such as an ILM Level 5 or CMI equivalent
• Overseas qualifications may require recognition - employers should check equivalence with UK frameworks

CQC Fit Person Assessment

If the worker will be the registered manager of a CQC-regulated service, they must pass the CQC fit person interview. This is separate from and in addition to the Home Office sponsorship process. Overseas recruits should be made aware of this requirement before accepting an offer, as the assessment covers knowledge of UK care standards and legislation.

Common Compliance Pitfalls for Care Sponsors

The care sector receives a high volume of Home Office compliance visits relative to other industries. Employers should be aware of the most frequent reasons licences are downgraded or revoked.

Salary Errors

Paying a