The next phase of the government’s recruitment campaign to get more people into the career of adult social care has been launched. The campaign, known as ‘When you care, every day makes a difference’ aims to help fill the 122,000 vacancies in adult social care.
This campaign targets 20 to 39 year olds and aims to raise awareness of the benefits of a career in adult social care.
Nearly 1.5 million people work in the adult social care sector, but an ageing population means that 580,000 more workers will be needed by 2035. The average age of those working in the sector is 45 years old, and around 385,000 jobs are held by people aged 55 years old who are likely to retire in the next 10 years.
This week, Robbie Moore visited the Raikes in Silsden, a well-known, local care home which provides great and loving care for all residents. The Raikes forms part of the local Crabtree Care Homes Group which has a range of care homes across the Keighley and Bradford area.
Spending the morning visiting the Raikes, Robbie spoke with the owner, David Crabtree as well as care home staff to understand some of the challenges which the sector currently faces with recruiting good people into the adult social care profession. Speaking with residents, Robbie was told just how important it is that the sector is viewed as a profession by staff, rather than a second-choice career.
Welcoming the launch of the government’s recruitment campaign, Robbie said, “A career in adult social care offers the rewarding opportunity to make a real difference to the lives of some of the most vulnerable people in society.
“We have brilliant people working in the sector, as I have seen here at the Raikes, in Silsden, but we urgently need more talent to ensure we can continue to provide support for those who need it.
“I am sure the government’s ‘When you care, every day makes a difference’ campaign will draw more people with the right values to forge fulfilling careers and help them realise how diverse, worthwhile and often flexible jobs in social care can be.”
Roles in adult social care include working with adults of all ages in different locations and with different needs, for example:
- a care worker in a care or nursing home
- an activities co-ordinator in the local community
- an occupational therapist in a hospital
- a personal assistant in someone’s home
Robbie urges anyone interested in forging a career in adult social care to click on the following link. https://www.everydayisdifferent.com/home.aspx
