Social care recruitment push after absence rate doubles

Health bosses said additional staff are urgently needed to support the adult social care workforce.

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said absence rates have more than doubled in recent months due to self-isolation as the impact of the new Covid-19 variant is being felt across the country and

Jobseekers, volunteers and people on furlough can register their interest for short-term opportunities including personal care, providing wellbeing support, collecting and delivering supplies or helping out with the cooking and cleaning.

DHSC said exact roles will be based on experience, local need and local authority and care provider discretion. DHSC said candidates do not necessarily need previous experience as training will be provided.

Tim Hearson, a senior autism practitioner from Bedfordshire, said: ‘I’ve been working in care for four and a half years.

‘I originally trained to be a surveyor but I felt something was missing and it didn’t give me the social interaction I was after so I made the decision to go into adult social care and I’ve never looked back.

‘I wake up every morning and go to work knowing I’m going to be making a difference to someone’s life, and there’s nothing more rewarding than that.

‘Seeing the people I care for progress every day is such a wonderful feeling and I always leave work with a smile on my face. For anyone considering a role in adult social care, go for it.’

DHSC said training, including in infection prevention controls and use of personal protective equipment (PPE), will be provided as well as vaccinations in line with key worker status and the priority vaccine scheme.

Health secretary Matt Hancock said: ‘We are doing everything we can to support the adult social care sector throughout this pandemic and our social care workforce have done an incredible job of helping the most vulnerable in society.

‘I am urging the public, whether you are a job-seeker, or looking for a new career, to consider working in care. We need short-term support while we face the pandemic and to continue to recruit the right people, with the right values, now and into the future.

‘Great progress has been made on offering vaccines to all older care home residents and care home staff and this recruitment drive will help us continue to fight this terrible virus.

Joint chief Social Worker for Adults, Mark Harvey and Fran Leddra, said: ‘We have both worked in social care all our lives.

‘It is a fantastic profession and a career that we have never regretted being a part of. The pandemic has spotlighted the profession and shown how critical and important it is.

‘We are in awe of the sheer dedication, commitment and professionalism that the workforce continues to show, making a difference to people’s lives every single day.

‘We hope that this campaign inspires you to join our skilled and talented workforce and help to support the lives of people across the country now and far beyond the pandemic.’

For more information visit the Every Day is Different website.

Photo Credit – Pixabay