Why this matters
Sponsored workers and their employers often want the worker to take on more senior duties. Whether this can be done within the existing CoS or whether a new CoS and new visa are required depends on whether the SOC code is changing.
Adding senior duties within the same SOC code
A Care Worker on SOC 6135 can carry out additional duties such as supervising other carers, mentoring, providing on-the-job training, and conducting spot checks, as part of professional development. Two conditions apply:
The majority of the role must remain care work under SOC 6135. The additional duties are permissible only as a secondary element of the role.
The worker must continue to be paid at the 6135 rate. They cannot be paid at a Senior Care Worker rate while remaining on a 6135 CoS.
If the balance shifts and the additional duties become the primary element of the role, the role has effectively become a Senior Care Worker role under SOC 6136 and a new CoS is required.
Promoting a worker from 6135 to 6136
A promotion that changes the SOC code (for example, Care Worker 6135 to Senior Care Worker 6136) requires:
A new CoS to be assigned to the worker under SOC 6136.
A new visa application, paid for as a Change of Employment.
The worker continuing in their current 6135 role until the new visa is approved. They must not perform the new role under the new CoS until then.
The minimum hourly rate for SOC 6136 is £12.82 per hour and the minimum annual salary is £25,000 based on a 37.5-hour week.
Use the Visa Fee Calculator on the Borderless platform to get a full cost breakdown before proceeding.