Northern Ireland care council hosting recruitment events

The Northern Ireland Social Care Council project ‘Recruiting a World Class Workforce’ will be launched during March 2014.

This project is a partnership between sector employers and education providers which has been led by NISCC, as the Sector Skills Council for the Social Work, Social Care and Children’s Services Workforce in NI.

Recruiting a World Class Workforce is one of four innovative UK projects funded by the UK Commission for Employment and Skills (UKCES). Other projects include: Mobile Learning and Knowledge Solutions, Workforce Implications of Assistive Technology and Learn from Learning Resource.

The events are an opportunity to sample two free resources which have been produced through this project to enable employers and education providers to recruit the people best-suited to work in care services and develop their career in the sector.

• A Question of Care – A Career for You (AQCCY) – a free online video based resource to assist recruitment and support career choices www.aquestionofcare.co.uk
• Ambassadors for Careers in Care – employer-led scheme to recruit and train people to share their enthusiasm and knowledge of work in the care sector with students or job seekers interested in a career in the sector.

If you are interested in a career in care, you’ll hear first-hand from people who have completed Ambassador training and have been sharing their experiences of working in care careers in colleges and at recruitment events.

Employers and education providers will showcase the AQCCY online resource for recruitment and career development. Service users will also be speaking at event, using their life experiences to demonstrate the importance of training and recruiting people who have the skills and aptitude to meet the challenges of providing care services in a skilled and person centred way.

Patricia Higgins, NISCC Director of Regulation and Standards said: “Our sector employs over 40,000 people in NI and demand for services is growing steadily. With our partners across NI, we are working to develop a workforce that is innovative, skilled and sustainable.

“Recruiting a World Class Workforce is a key part in attracting the right people into the sector and in supporting them to grow and develop in their care career. I would like to thank all of those who have committed their time and energy to establishing ‘Recruiting a World Class Workforce’ and in sustaining it in the years to come.”

The events will be held on:

•     Tuesday 18 March 2014 at Southern Regional College, 36-44 Lurgan Road, Portadown from 10.00 – 12.00
•     Friday 21 March at the Belfast Metropolitan College, E3, Springfield Campus, Springfield Road, Belfast from 10.00 – 12.00 noon.

To book a place at these events, contact [email protected]