The public are being called upon to apply for short-term and long-term opportunities in the adult social care sector to support care home residents and those being cared for at home.
The impact of the new COVID-19 variant is being felt across the country and additional staff are urgently needed now to support the adult social care workforce, where absence rates have more than doubled in recent months due to self-isolation.
Jobseekers, volunteers, and people on furlough can now register their interest for short-term opportunities including personal care – helping people to wash and dress – providing wellbeing support, simply collecting and delivering supplies, or helping out with the cooking and cleaning. Exact roles will be based on experience, local need and local authority and care provider discretion.
The ‘Care for Others. Make a Difference.’ campaign also launches this week using television, digital and radio advertising to drive awareness of long-term career opportunities, highlighting the rewarding, varied and flexible roles available across the care sector to help build a sustainable workforce now and for the future. Almost 1.5 million people work in adult social care and there are many opportunities for those looking to make a difference.
Minister for Care Helen Whately said: “Since the pandemic began, we’ve seen thousands of wonderful people step forwards to volunteer for the NHS and take part in our truly tremendous national vaccination effort. Today, I’m asking people to step forwards to help in social care too.
“Jobs in the care sector are hard work, but they can also be incredibly rewarding. When you get home from work, you know you’ve made a real difference for the people you care for. I know we can’t say thank you to care workers too many times for what they do.”
Applicants do not necessarily need previous experience as training is provided to help them become valued members of the social care workforce.
People can find out more about a longer-term career in social care and search for jobs in their area by visiting www.everydayisdifferent.com and will be directed to the website to register their interest in short-term opportunities.
Tim Hearson, who already works in the adult social care sector as a Senior Autism Practitioner from Bedfordshire, said: “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.”
For the short-term scheme, for individuals who have registered their interest online, DHSC will pass their registration details onto their local authority and local adult social care service providers. Care providers will then contact candidates directly. Further information on access to training, DBS checks and vaccines will be provided when candidates are contacted.
Training, including in infection prevention controls and use of PPE, will be provided as well as vaccinations in-line with key worker status and the priority vaccine scheme.
