Contract Manager, Nathan Rhodes features in the next phase of the Department’s ‘When you care, every day makes a difference’ adult social care recruitment campaign, which aims to attract people with the right values to help fill the 122,000 vacancies across the sector to support some of the most vulnerable in society.
Nathan, 27 and from East Anglia, began his career as a support worker at Look Ahead and now manages a supported accommodation service for people with mental health needs in East London.
A survey of 2,020 adults as part of the campaign found that:
- Younger people in England aged 18-34 are the most likely to consider applying for a job in adult social care
- Over half of people aged 18-34 would consider changing jobs for one that helps other people
- 49% of people believe that a job that offers fulfilment would be one of the top qualities they would look for in a role
- The Government today launches the next phase of ‘When you care, every day makes a difference’ adult social care recruitment campaign to fill 122,000 highly varied and often flexible vacancies
Interest from younger people has been welcomed to support those already in the sector who are on average 45 years old and form the next generation of adult social care workers, as 385,000 jobs are held by people 55 years and old who are likely to retire in the next ten years. The campaign will continue to target 20-39 year olds, to help capitalise on this appetite and raise awareness of the variety, benefits and progression offered by a career in care.
Minister 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.”
Skills for Care Interim CEO, Andy Tilden, said:
“With only 19% of our workforce currently aged under 30 this campaign is very timely, especially as we know we need to fill around 122,000 job vacancies across our sector on any given day.
“I’m really encouraged by this survey that shows young people would seriously consider a career in adult social care that we know offers huge personal and professional rewards. I would encourage anyone who thinks they have the right values to make a real difference in their community to take a look at the many different job roles available and see which would best suit their talents.”
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 or 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 we help us to achieve that.”
Nathan Rhodes, Contract Manager at Look Ahead said:
“If you want to help people and have a positive impact on their lives, adult social care is the right place for you … It’s the best decision I’ve made.
“People come to the service needing support in multiple different areas. You see those people leaving two or three years later with skills, confidence and the ability to access support if they need it. The difference is tangible and the results of your work are very clear.”
There are thousands of flexible jobs in the sector including over 600,000 people working part time, allowing people to juggle studying, family and personal lives with their workload, including taking advantage of the free time they have during the day. Many parents are already starting to realise the benefits of working in adult social care with 65% of those with dependent children at home saying they would consider such a role.
The campaign will put a spotlight on the range and variety of social care roles available in the sector. This will include mental health and complex needs, domiciliary care, rural care opportunities, individual employers and personal assistants, shared lives schemes and supporting people with learning disabilities. It will also highlight the potential for progression in a career in care, with on the job training and the chance to gain new qualifications and skills.
For more information, please contact Kate Bawden, Head of Communications. Tel: 0207 368 4885 Email: katebawden@lookahead.org.uk
If you are interested in developing your career at Look Ahead, please take a look at our current vacancies or check out our LinkedIn page.
