Shortage of care workers sparks recruitment drive

NORTH EAST IS SHORT OF SOME 5,100 PEOPLE TO LOOK AFTER ADULTS

A MAJOR recruitment drive has been launched in a bid to plug the North East’s shocking shortage in care workers.

There are currently 5,100 vacancies in the adult social care sector in the region.

And now ministers have launched a national campaign in a bid to drive more people towards a career in caring.

Every Day Is Different will locally showcase how rewarding social care careers can be, with a huge array of opportunities for progression and professional development.

And stats such as the fact that 96% of care professionals feel their work makes a difference to people’s lives, will be highlighted. The campaign aims to; attract new people with the right values to the sector and increase interest in adult social care as a vocation and highlight the array of job roles, with an initial focus on direct care roles such as care workers, where there is the most demand.

The Government is also working to equip the sector with the marketing tools to support the campaign and advice to recruit the right people and help retain staff, to address a high turnover rate.

In the North East alone, there are an estimated 5,100 vacancies in the adult social care sector at any given time,with 18,000 leaving these jobs every year out of a total directly employed workforce of 66,000. It is predicted an additional 30,000 workers will be needed in the region by 2035, to keep up with the rising numbers of people aged 65 and over. Minister for care Caroline Dinenage said: “Adult social care is too often seen as the ‘Cinderella service’ to our NHS. I’m determined to change this perception, starting with our hard-working social care workforce. Caroline Dineage

“There is huge demand for more care professionals, who work incredibly hard to look after the most vulnerable people in our society, across the North East. We must spread the word that careers in adult social care can be rewarding, varied and worthwhile. Care is a vocation where you can transform people’s lives and every day is different.

“Our recruitment campaign will support care providers across the North East, from Northumberland to Cleveland, to recruit thousands more talented people. If you think a career in care could be for you, I urge you to look up the opportunities in your local area and become part of a vital and growing profession.”

Adult social care is often seen as the ‘Cinderella service’. I’m determined to change that perception

■ Find out about vacancies at www.gov.uk/jobsearch.