The UK government has launched a recruitment campaign to boost the adult social care workforce in England as part of a wider plan to attract more staff into the sector.
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) campaign, titled ‘Care for Others. Make a Difference’, will look to inspire the public to consider a paid career in adult social care.
The campaign includes the new CARE brand for social care which symbolises the entire care profession. The brand aims to raise the profile of the care sector and allow businesses to show them the same appreciation as NHS workers.
Free e-learning courses and webinars for local authority and care provider staff are also being developed on how to maintain good care amid the coronavirus crisis.
Key topics include safeguarding, person-centred care, dementia, the Mental Capacity Act, infection control and supporting care at home to reduce pressure on the NHS.
“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,” said DHSC Secretary Matt Hancock.
“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,” he added.
Care Minister Helen Whately said: “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.”
She added: “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”.
Skills for Care has worked with the government to make rapid online induction training accessible. That includes key elements of the Care Certificate and is available free of charge.
DHSC meanwhile is 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.
Job boards including Indeed, Monster, Reed, Totaljobs Group and TARGETJobs are offering support to help fill these vacancies, ranging from free job listings to free advertising.
