Recruitment boost lands nomination Home care firm shortlisted
A Perthshire home care company staff are celebrating after being shortlisted for the Best In-house Recruitment Team award.
The awards run by S1jobs recognised the business for boosting the positive perception of a job in care and increasing the number of care professionals in the area during the social care sector’s most difficult time.
Home Instead Perthshire saw a rise in demand for home care during the pandemic but struggled to recruit and retain staff to meet this rise in popularity.
The firm, which provides services that enable older people to continue living at home ranging from personal care to companionship, was keen to show that care is a worthwhile career route to take.
A promotional campaign was launched, profiling care professionals who have joined from other sectors and gone on to excel in their roles.
Home Instead particularly targeted males and younger people – two groups that are underrepresented in social care.
The company was delighted to see the campaign trigger a rise in conversion rates among applicants, and during one year saw its team of care professionals increase by 40 per cent during a time when the social care sector was suffering from a recruitment crisis.
Group recruitment and retention manager at Home Instead Perthshire, Fiona Lauder said: “There’s no doubt that the social care sector has faced its challenges in recent years, which have only been exacerbated by the pandemic.
“I’m delighted that we have managed to turn it around with a more focused recruitment strategy and attracted more people into a career in care. It’s just as exciting that we’ve received an award nomination off the back of it.
“We have trebled our recruitment team, and that’s how we plan to sustain our success of late.
“We recently scrapped zero-hour contracts and offer a range of contracts from flexible hours, to fulltime and live-in care.
“We believe in giving security to our care professionals and providing a career route they can progress in.”
The awards ceremony will be presented by comedian Jo Brand and will take place at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Glasgow.