Government launch new adult social care recruitment campaign to boost workforce

As part of a wider plan to attract more staff into the adult social care sector, the Department of Health and Social Care has announced a new national recruitment campaign has been launched to boost the workforce in England.

The campaign, titled ‘Care for Others. Make a Difference’ will look to inspire the public to consider a career in social care.

To help fill the recruitment gap, the Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock and Care Minister Helen Whately, have today launched the campaign with the aim of encouraging the right people with the right values and attributes to consider a paid career in adult social care work.

Free-to-access e-learning courses and webinars for local authority and care provider staff are also being developed on how to maintain good care in the midst of the coronavirus crisis. Key topics will include: safeguarding, person-centred care, dementia, Mental Capacity Act, infection control and supporting care at home to reduce pressure on the NHS.

Matt Hancock, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care said: “During these unprecedented times we are all grateful to the huge number of social care workers working day and night to provide quality care to the most vulnerable in our society.

“The whole country wants to thank the 1.5 million of you for your inspirational and tireless work.

“I want this campaign to reignite the search for people with a zest for caring and protecting our most vulnerable to step forward to join them.”

Helen Whately, Minister of State for Care, comments: “The care sector is a vital part of our society, and this pandemic has truly brought home the skill and commitment of care workers who are looking after some of the most vulnerable people in our communities.

“We want to make sure everyone knows what an important and valued job care workers do, and inspire more people to step forwards to join the care workforce.

“We also want to support care providers who are looking to recruit staff, so we are offering free initial training to applicants considering a job in care. This should help job seekers looking to work in care for the first time and their future employers.

“We want to bring together all those thinking they might work in care with social care providers looking for new recruits, and to make it as simple as possible for the doors to open up for thousands more compassionate and committed people to work in care”

Skills for Care have worked with the government to make rapid online induction training accessible.

This includes key elements of the Care Certificate and is available free of charge. This will provide good practice resources and support for social care professionals to help the sector meet the challenge of Covid-19.

Skills for Care CEO Oonagh Smyth said: “We know that significant numbers of social care staff are unable to work so realising this ambition of recruiting thousands of people to where they are needed by providers right across the country is absolutely vital.

“Some of our network of endorsed training providers have secured funding to deliver learning for new staff so they have the skills and knowledge needed to make a real difference in the lives of the people they will be working with and in their communities.”

Currently, 1.49 million people work in adult social care, but the coronavirus outbreak has put additional pressure on the vital work already being provided by the sector.

The most important qualities needed in care workers are an ability to treat others with respect, listen to their needs, understand their emotions and be warm, kind and honest. A good standard of English, numeracy and digital skills, attention to detail and the ability to work as part of a team is also important.

The Department of Health and Social Care has been working with both care providers and recruitment agencies and is calling for all relevant organisations to ensure vacancies are advertised or listed on www.everydayisdifferent.com.