The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has launched the next phase of a national recruitment campaign to fill 122,000 vacancies in the adult social care sector.
Nearly 1.5 million people work in the adult social care sector, but the average age of the sector is 45 years old, with 385,000 people likely to retire in the next 10 years. In order to safeguard the sector in the future, the Government is targeting 20 to 39-year olds, with surveys showing that 64% of 18 to 34-year olds will consider a career in adult social care.
The campaign aims to raise awareness of the benefits that a career in the adult social care sector has, and the rewarding impact that carers have. Such roles include being a care worker in a nursing home, activities coordinator in local communities, an occupational therapist in hospitals or a personal assistant in someone’s home.
Local MP and Minister of State for Care, Caroline Dinenage, said:
“A career in adult social care offers the rewarding opportunity to make a real difference to the lives of some of the most vulnerable people in society – a sentiment 96% of current care workers on the ground agree with.
“We have over a million brilliant people working in the sector, but we urgently need new talent to ensure we can continue to provide support for those who need it.
“I hope our ‘When you care, every day makes a difference’ campaign will draw more people with the right values to forge fulfilling careers and help them realise how diverse, worthwhile and often flexible jobs in social care can be. I urge anyone considering a career in care to apply today.”
Julie Ogley, President of the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS), said:
“People of any age can work in social care and make a real difference to the lives of so many who need it.
“There’s a wealth of highly rewarding career opportunities for everyone, from providing vital care and support as a care worker or personal assistant, to roles in the local community and beyond with the opportunity to go further.
“There are careers to be had in social care – our own members, all of whom are directors, and their direct line reports, are a prime example of this.
“We want to see a social care workforce that is diverse and well representative of our society and we hope that this campaign will help us to achieve that.”