Dramatic drop in care vacancies urges the government to launch recruitment campaign

The department of Health and Social Care have launched the second year of the ‘Made with Care’ recruitment campaign to assist with the severe staff shortage.

Running until March 2023, campaign advertising will appear across platforms such as ITV Hub, Spotify; Facebook and Instagram to direct job seekers to www.adultsocialcare.co.uk. There, people will be able to access information on a career in adult social care and apply for jobs near them. 

The website also includes support to improve people’s CV and advice on interviews.

Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay said: ‘Working in social care is rewarding, inspiring and provides career opportunities with a range of roles you may have never considered.

‘To get started, you just need to have the right qualities including kindness and compassion to support people’s loved ones and make a difference.

‘This government is committed to a sustainable social care sector, and anyone can play a part by joining this incredible workforce.’

Jobs range from support workers who help people in care with day-to-day activities, to shared lives carers who welcome people who need care into their homes and family life.  

With advertising planned across England, the ‘Made with Care Campaign, which was originally launched in 2021, aims to highlight the work staff across the adult social care sector do and illustrate emotional rewards of the role to inspire more people to consider a job in the sector.

Oonagh Smyth, Chief Executive Officer for Skills for Care, said: ‘Skills for Care is excited to see the next phase of the Made with Care campaign progress.

‘Our ‘State of the adult social care sector and workforce in England’ report released in October has really highlighted the recruitment and retention challenges the adult social care sector is facing right now, with vacancy levels having increased 52% in the past year to the highest rate on record.

‘At the same time the number of filled posts has fallen, this is the first drop in the number of care workers ever.

‘We need to talk more about the rewarding and fulfilling career that adult social care can offer, and we hope the Made with Care campaign will raise awareness of the value and variety of a career in care and the important contribution that the 1.5 million people currently working in adult social care are making to our communities.’

A spokesperson from the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS) said: ‘The recruitment campaign Made with Care is so important in showing the wide variety of roles across adult social care, as well as just how meaningful and essential the work is.

‘It’s vital that adult social care is seen as an enriching career, comprised of a talented workforce making it possible for us all to live the lives we want to live.’ 

Photo by Zach Vessels