Immigration Lead

Healthcare Ireland Group operates a network of care homes across Northern Ireland, England, Scotland, and Wales, delivering person-centred, compassionate, and safe care. Our mission is to enhance residents’ lives, support our people, and drive continuous improvement through strong leadership, innovation, and values-led decision-making.

This role is fully office-based in Holywood, Northern Ireland.

About the Role

The Immigration Lead is a specialist role within the HR Directorate, responsible for managing all aspects of Healthcare Ireland’s immigration and sponsorship licence compliance across the Group. Reporting directly to the HR Director, the postholder is the Group’s subject matter expert on UK immigration law and UKVI (UK Visas and Immigration) requirements—ensuring Healthcare Ireland’s sponsorship licence obligations are fully met, that international recruits are supported through the visa and right-to-work process, and that the Group is protected from the significant financial and reputational risks that immigration non-compliance can carry.

Healthcare Ireland recruits internationally to help meet the staffing demands of a large and growing care portfolio, and immigration compliance is therefore a business-critical function. The Immigration Lead works closely with the Head of HR, HR Team Lead Recruitment Manager and Team Lead, and external legal advisers to ensure that every stage of the international recruitment and employment journey—from visa application through to ongoing worker monitoring and licence audit readiness—is managed accurately, compliantly, and with genuine care for the individuals involved.

Key Responsibilities

• Sponsorship Licence Management: Take overall responsibility for the Group’s UKVI sponsorship licences, ensuring all requirements are met, the Sponsorship Management System (SMS) is accurately maintained, and licences are renewed and updated appropriately. Act as Key Contact/Authorising Officer as required and lead on UKVI audits or compliance visits.
• Visa & CoS Management: Manage the end-to-end Skilled Worker visa and Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) process, ensuring roles and candidates meet UKVI requirements, applications are accurate and timely, and candidates and stakeholders receive clear guidance and support.
• Right-to-Work Compliance: Oversee right-to-work processes across the Group, ensuring checks and records are accurate and completed within required timescales. Monitor time-limited permissions, manage expiry tracking, advise Recruitment and HR teams, and escalate any compliance concerns or risks.
• Sponsored Worker Compliance: Maintain accurate sponsored worker records and ensure changes to roles, salary, hours, location, attendance, or employment status are assessed and reported to UKVI where required. Monitor compliance with sponsorship and visa conditions and ensure relevant stakeholders understand their responsibilities.
• International Recruitment: Provide immigration expertise throughout international recruitment campaigns, advising on sponsorship requirements, occupation codes, salary thresholds, and processing times. Support candidate communications and effective pre-arrival and onboarding arrangements.
• Policy, Training & Advice: Develop and maintain immigration policies, procedures, and guidance. Provide training to HR, Recruitment, Onboarding, and operational teams, stay up to date with changes to immigration legislation and UKVI guidance, and work with external immigration advisers on complex matters.
• Audit & Risk Management: Maintain accurate, audit-ready immigration records, conduct regular internal audits, identify and mitigate compliance risks, and provide the HR Director with timely updates on the Group’s immigration compliance position and emerging risks.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Act as the Group’s trusted immigration specialist, building effective relationships across HR, Recruitment, and operational teams and providing practical, timely advice. Uphold Healthcare Ireland’s values of Quality, Innovation, Compassion, Integrity, and Respect, particularly when supporting international recruits.