Athena Care Homes is celebrating after a recruitment open day saw its Avocet Court Care Home in Ipswich make 15 job offers in a single day.
The Athena team sought out former applicants and those who had recently left the business, and contacted a local care home that had announced its closure. It also shared details online, with local media, and via Athena’s social media. In addition, Athena staff were encouraged to take advantage of the company’s referrer bonus scheme by inviting their friends.
The potential candidates were invited to an open day in February at Avocet Court and fast-tracked through the interview process.
The recruitment day allowed people to apply for multiple roles and discuss their individual needs in terms of flexible working. After a series of interview panels, 15 successful candidates were offered jobs that evening, meaning that Avocet Court can dramatically reduce its use of agency staff.
Jenni Rowan, resourcing manager for Athena Care Homes, said: “We offered a total of 292 carer hours, 66 team leader, 37 activities, and bank hours for a housekeeper. The calibre of candidates was extremely high and it was a privilege to be able to offer so many people an opportunity to work with us here at Avocet Court.”
Registered home manager Ruth Garnham said: “Having an open day allowed us to meet candidates who may be put off applying for roles because of the set hours. Being able to discuss their needs meant we could find workable solutions and offer roles to talented, enthusiastic people.
“We look forward to welcoming our new recruits to the Athena family.”
Group operations director Katherine Foley added: “As a sector we need to be pro-active in our recruitment processes to find the best people to join our teams and work with us and our residents. Bringing on board 15 new starters in Ipswich will help us strengthen our existing team and reduce the need to use agency staff. This offers residents better continuity and creates a stronger family spirit.”
