Councils come together to support care providers

Bristol City Council has joined authorities across the South West in supporting a new campaign to help care providers across the region as they experience difficulties in recruiting.

The challenge of recruiting the right people to the care sector affects the availability of care to people who could be living independently at home or in care homes.

It is a challenge that local authorities aim to address by creating awareness of how rewarding and worthwhile care work is as a career choice, and encouraging the positive image that care work deserves.

The campaign aims to reach all potential care workers, but specifically targets key audiences including young people and those who have studied health and social care, parents considering returning to work, people aged 50 and over who want to give something back to their community, and students seeking employment over holiday periods.

This is the first time local authorities have taken a regional approach to raising the profile of care and 16 councils across the South West, and Health Education England, are supporting the campaign.

The Association of Directors of Adult Social Care and Skills for Care and Skills for Health are also taking part in supporting care workers.

The campaign features interviews and first-hand personal accounts for care and support workers, who talk passionately about their love for the work they do.

Helen Holland, cabinet member for adult social care at Bristol City Council, said: “We’re really pleased to be working in partnership with so many other local authorities across the region on this campaign, which I hope will inspire more people to consider a career in care.

“Care can provide all kinds of flexible work, and if we work more closely together, we can make the most of training opportunities to help progress careers in care. It really is time that people working in the care sector got the recognition they deserve for the huge contribution they make to our society.”

Jess from Hengrove works at Milestones Trust is one of the carers featured in the campaign. She said: “Leaving school I wasn’t sure exactly what I wanted to do, but I knew that I wanted a job that would help people. After initially working with children, I decided that I wanted to support adults with learning disabilities so I started working as an apprentice in the sector. It was a challenge, but I found the work extremely rewarding and now I work full time at Milestones Trust. My job involves helping people to live as independently as possible and make their own choices, and helps people to build their confidence to take part in community life. I’d honestly recommend my job to everyone – although it’s hard work the rewards are brilliant and I go home each day knowing I’ve made a difference.”