Social care providers team up for Lochaber information and jobs events
Health and social care providers across Lochaber are to join forces later this week for a series of events designed to promote the latest job opportunities within the local ‘care at home’ sector.
Independent and voluntary care providers such as Crossroads, Day and Night Owls, Carr Gomm and Lucerne have teamed up with Scottish Care, the national care provider membership organisation, and NHS Highland to hold ‘Care information and Recruitment Fayres’ at five different locations across the region.
With more 50 local jobs or career opportunities on offer, the events will be of especial interest to jobseekers thinking of taking up a new career or challenge in 2018.
The first event will be held at the Fort William Library on Monday 22nd January, before then being held in Strontian, Ballachulish, Spean Bridge and Caol on successive days.
“From entry level to more senior positions, these opportunities will include caring jobs from care support workers for people of all ages to domiciliary care jobs caring for people in their own homes.
“Many of these jobs are flexible and can fit around childcare arrangements. In many instances, no qualifications are required and they are open to drivers and non-drivers, with many jobs allowing people to work close to home.
“And there are not just opportunities for jobseekers. There is also considerable scope for volunteers to help out in the care at home sector if people want to put something back into their community.”
Staff from NHS Highland will be on hand at each event highlighting the considerable level of support and training the health board can provide employees within its care at home services.
With on-the-job training geared towards gaining nationally recognised qualifications as well as other benefits, NHS Highland care at home staff will emphasise that prospective employees are being offered not just a job, but a potential pathway towards a structured career within the NHS.
Rena Macleod, NHS Highland’s area manager for West Highland Operation Unit’s Care at Home service (Skye, Lochalsh, West Ross & Lochaber) is just one of many NHS Highland staff to have received this ‘fantastic training’ opportunity.
She said; “I was a stay at home Mum until my children were teenagers, I had no formal qualifications but responded to an advert for relief social care workers within a Learning Disability service, This has offered me lots of opportunities along the way and in my career I have progressed from a late start to becoming the area manager.”
Jon Hanley, NHS Highland’s integrated team lead for Skye & Lochalsh, also said benefited because of the structured career pathways on offer.
He said: “I started as a volunteer in a day centre and through this gained enough experience to gain a formal Social work qualification which has enabled me to work in a variety of interesting roles. Currently, I am the Integrated Team Lead for Skye & Lochalsh.”
The dates for the Care Information and Recruitment Fayre events in Lochaber are as follows:
- Monday 22nd January at the Fort William Library from 10am to 4pm.
- Tuesday 23rd January at the Strontian Village Hall from 10am to 1pm.
- Wednesday 24th at Ballachulish Hall from 10am to 1pm
- Thursday 25th January at Spean Bridge Community Centre from 10am to 1pm
- Friday 26th January at the Caol Community Centre from 10am to 4pm
Julie said: “Everyone is welcome to come along for the whole sessions, or just to attend the special drop-in sessions held between 11.15am to 1pm.
“Information sessions are also planned that will look at specific areas like care and self-directed support. There will be a fun look at training in the care sector, and carers from all the Fayre partners will be on hand to answer questions about their roles. I would encourage any jobseekers to bring their C.V.s and some photographic ID and proof of address along as it is a great opportunity with 50 local jobs on offer.”
For further information or recruitment packs contact: [email protected] tel: 07399419712
Picture (c) Lucerne Care.
